Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

413. Telegram From the Embassy in Ethiopia to the Department of State¹

3534.

Addis Ababa, September 23, 1983, 0833Z

S/S/O please deliver to appropriate officers opening of business. Subject: Western Sahara Implementation Committee Meeting Fails. Ref: (A) Addis Ababa 3520,² (B) Addis Ababa 3521.³

1. (C—Entire text)

2. The OAU Western Sahara Implementation Committee meeting collapsed on the afternoon of September 22nd after the Moroccan delegation refused either to sit at the same table or in the same room, and some say in the same building, with the Polisario delegation to negotiate over the Western Sahara.

3. From OAU sources, Tanzanian diplomats and others we have the following sketchy outline of what happened. OAU sources state that the Moroccan delegation included a group of Saharans who, they said, were competent to discuss the Western Sahara problem with the Polisario. According to OAU sources, the Polisario agreed to negotiate with the Moroccan Saharans on the Western Sahara provided that the Moroccan delegation would sit at the same table with the Polisario. The Moroccans adamantly refused to do so. Tanzanian source did not provide such detailed information but did confirm that Morocco refused to negotiate in any way with the Polisario.

4. According to OAU sources, Sekou Toure tried to have documents presented by the various factions to the Implementation Committee, which the Implementation Committee declined to accept.⁴ At this point, a substantial majority of the Implementation Committee agreed that Morocco was avoiding all OAU agreements agreed to at the 19th OAU session.

5. When Morocco remained adamant, Tanzania, Mali and Ethiopia pushed for immediate adjournment and cancellation of further meetings. Toure, Peter Onu and the OAU Staff, plus some friends of Morocco, tried to mount a salvage operation, but Nyerere’s departure late afternoon of September 22nd squashed that option. By the morning of September 23, the Sudanese, Malian and Tanzanian delegations had left Addis Ababa with the remaining parties expected to depart shortly.

6. Comment: There is consternation at the OAU and puzzlement among diplomats in Addis Ababa why the Moroccans would send a large delegation, led by the Crown Prince, to say no to what was commonly believed to be a pre-arranged face-saving situation for Morocco. Also, concern is already being expressed in the African diplomatic community over prospects for the 20th OAU summit conference in Conakry.

O’Neill

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830551–0573. Confidential; Niact Immediate. Sent for information Immediate to Algiers, Bamako, Conakry, Dar es Salaam, Freetown, Lagos, Paris, and Rabat.
2. In telegram 3520 from Addis Ababa, September 22, O’Neill reported that the “Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan, who is attending the Implementation Meeting on the Sahara, told me at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the meetings have been adjourned. He said that the Moroccan delegation would not talk to the Polisario either face-to-face or through intermediaries. There is now some attempt to reinstitute a smaller meeting but the Ambassador feels that this is highly unlikely.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830548–0534)
3. In telegram 3521 from Addis Ababa, September 22, the Embassy reported: “The Moroccans almost from the beginning stated that they were in Addis Ababa under the Nairobi OAU meeting guidelines. The other members of the Implementation Committee stated that they were in Addis Ababa for this meeting under the 19th OAU guidelines; the latter which requires negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario. This was the first clash and was the sign of troubles to come.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830550–0115)
4. In telegram 3554 from Addis Ababa, September 25, O’Neill reported that as a result of information “secured during a meeting at airport” that there were “assurances given by Sékou Touré’s Ambassador, in Addis Ababa, definitely verbally and some say in written form, that Morocco would negotiate with the Polisario. It was on this basis that the meeting was called. The Moroccans vehemently deny that they gave any such assurance.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830555–0370)