Addis Ababa — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, continues to monitor very closely developments in the Western Sahara, in particular as they relate to the human rights situation in the Territory, as well as to the specific case of the expulsion of Mrs. Aminatou Haidar, a Saharawi human rights activist.

The Chairperson of the Commission joins other international actors in calling upon the Moroccan authorities to allow Mrs. Haidar to return to Western Sahara.

He equally shares the concern expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. BAN Ki-moon, in the face of the growing tension between the parties to the Western Sahara egotiations.

In this context, he recalls that, during its Special Session on the consideration and resolution of conflicts in Africa, held in Tripoli on 31 August 2009, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government expressed support to the ongoing United Nations efforts to overcome the current impasse and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, calling, to this end, for the intensification of efforts towards the holding of a referendum to enable the people of the Territory to choose between the option of independence and that of integration into the Kingdom of Morocco.