As part of the program of activities for the National Council’s 2026 legislative session, a historic lecture was held in Shaheed El-Hafed to thoroughly review the participation and experiences of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. This consultative forum, organized by the country’s legislative institution, aimed to strengthen the Sahrawi Republic’s role within the continent’s economic framework and to identify future opportunities.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Omar Hamdaha, President of the National Committee for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. In his presentation, he extensively explained the core concept of the agreement, its primary objectives, and the economic and developmental integration it is poised to bring across the African continent. Mr. Omar further recalled the historic process through which the Sahrawi Republic accepted and officially ratified the AfCFTA agreement. He proudly noted that the country ratified the treaty on April 29, 2019, and that this ratification served as the definitive and critical vote required to fulfill the minimum country threshold for the agreement to legally enter into force.
In addition, an overview was provided regarding the Sahrawi Republic’s economic profile document, which had been approved during the National Council’s 2025 legislative session. It was explained that this document is designed to introduce the Sahrawi government’s economic and investment options to the world and the continent, highlight the country’s core development potentials, and enhance its influence within the African economic sphere. The agreement was noted not only for boosting trade ties among African nations but also for accelerating continental integration by opening doors for new commercial and investment sectors.
On the other hand, Bachir Mustapha Sayed, a member of the National Secretariat and President of the National Council, expressed his admiration for the presentation. The President emphasized that the Sahrawi people can only become effective and competitive participants in this continental economic zone by improving the quality of locally produced goods, increasing productivity, and strengthening market linkage capabilities. He pointed out that although the country faces various political and structural challenges, building robust domestic production chains and ensuring economic sovereignty constitute crucial pillars for national survival and self-reliance.
Meanwhile, the National Council also conducted other deliberations related to various social and security issues. Among these was a seminar focusing on criminal activities, security threats, drug trafficking, and the social crises caused by illegal migration, all of which pose significant threats to society.
In related regional news, it was reported that a training course is being conducted in Algeria to build the capacity of Sahrawi health professionals. The main focus of the training is on enhancing the skills of vaccination workers. Furthermore, the Ministry of Water and Environment announced that it has received water tankers donated by the Tindouf province to address clean water supply challenges. In contrast, the human rights organization AARASD-France announced the launch of an international campaign demanding the immediate release of Sahrawi political prisoners detained in Gdeim Izik.
