Question of Ifni and Spanish Sahara

XXI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2229. Question of Ifni and Spanish Sahara

The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the Territories of Ifni and Spanish Sahara,[1] Having taken note of the oral and written statements of the petitioners from Spanish Sahara, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling further the resolution adopted on 16 October 1964 by the Special Committee,[2] Reaffirming its resolution 2072 (XX) of 16 December 1965, Noting that the Spanish Government, as the administering Power, has not as yet applied the provisions of the Declaration, Having regard to the decision taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its third ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 5 to 9 November 1966, concerning the Territories under Spanish administration, Noting the decision of the administering Power to apply in full the provisions of General Assembly resolution 2072 (XX),[3] Noting further the statement of the administering Power on 7 December 1966 relating to Spanish Sahara, in particular with regard to the sending of a special United Nations mission to the Territory, the return of exiles and the free exercise by the indigenous population of its right to self-determination,[4]

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of Ifni and Spanish Sahara to self-determination in accordance with, General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

2. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the Territories of Ifni and Spanish Sahara, and endorses the resolution adopted by the Special Committee on 16 November 1966,[5]

3. Requests the administering Power to take immediately the necessary steps to accelerate the decolonization of Ifni and to determine with the Government of Morocco, bearing in mind the aspirations of the indigenous population, procedures for the transfer of powers in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

4. Invites the administering Power to determine at the earliest possible date, in conformity with the aspirations of the indigenous people of Spanish Sahara and in consultation with the Governments of Mauritania and Morocco and any other interested party, the procedures for the holding of a referendum under United Nations auspices with a view to enabling the indigenous population of the Territory to exercise freely its right to self-determination and, to this end:

(a) To create a favourable climate for the referendum to be conducted on an entirely free, democratic and impartial basis, by permitting, inter alia, the return of exiles to the Territory;

(b) To take all the necessary steps to ensure that only the indigenous people of the Territory participate in the referendum;

(c) To refrain from any action likely to delay the process of the decolonization of Spanish Sahara;

(d) To provide all the necessary facilities to a United Nations mission so that it may be able to participate actively in the organization and holding of the referendum;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the administering Power and the Special Committee, to appoint immediately a special mission to be sent to Spanish Sahara for the purpose of recommending practical steps for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in particular for determining the extent of United Nations participation in the preparation and supervision of the referendum and submitting a report to him as soon as possible for transmission to the Special Committee;

6. Requests the Special Committee to continue its consideration of the situation in the Territories of Ifni and Spanish Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its twenty-second session.

1500th plenary meeting,
20 December 1966.


[1] Ibid., chapter X. [2] Ibid., Nineteenth Session, Annexes, annex No. 8 (part I) (A/5800/Rev.1), chapter IX, para. 112. [3] Ibid., Twenty-first Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23 (A/6300/Rev.1), chapter X, annex. [4] Ibid., Twenty-first Session, Fourth Committee. 1660th meeting, paras. 1-4. [5] Ibid., Twenty-first Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23 (A/6300/Rev.1), chapter X, para. 243.
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