President Ramaphosa to deliver a Welcome Address at the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 26 March 2019, deliver his welcome address at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Solidarity Conference with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or Western Sahara.

The conference follows a decision taken at the 37th Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government, held in Pretoria in 2017 to convene the Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara. It will be officially opened by the Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of   the Republic of Namibia.

The SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara seeks, among other things, to reaffirm the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-  determination in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and applicable documents of the Organisation of the African Unity  (OAU) and African Union (AU) as well as champion the implementation of the UN resolutions and OAU and AU decisions to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination.

At the end of the conference the SADC Heads of State and Government and participating Heads of State and Government from other regions as well as political party formations and other organizations are expected to issue a Declaration on Western Sahara.

The SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara will also be attended by the former presidents and international organizations.

The conference is preceded by a one day meeting of the SADC Ministers and Ministers from other participating countries and regions as well civil society organizations and political party formations currently taking place in Pretoria.

Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), OR Tambo Building,  460 Soutpansberg Rd, Rietondale, Pretoria

NOTE: Only accredited media will be allowed access into DIRCO Building


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria