UN Secretary General Guterres demands freedom for Western Sahara and others
The world has moved forward in so many ways but it seems the shadow of the past is still hanging over some parts of our global community.
Recently, the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, made a very strong case that the era of colonialism must finally come to an end. Speaking at the opening of the 2026 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization, popularly known as the C 24, Guterres pointed out that there are still seventeen territories across the globe that are yet to gain their full independence.
For those of us following international politics, this is a serious matter of justice that has been delayed for too long. The UN Chief was very clear that the people living in these regions deserve to choose their own future without any external control. It is quite surprising to realize that in this modern age, we still have millions of people who cannot fully call their land their own.
Why decolonization remains an unfinished business for the United Nations
When the United Nations was formed many decades ago, one of its main goals was to ensure that every nation could stand on its own feet.
While many African countries got their independence in the 1960s, the process somehow stalled for some specific places. Guterres described this situation as the unfinished business of the United Nations. He noted that for the people living in these non self governing territories, the wait for self-determination has been a very long and painful one.
The real koko of the matter is that decolonization is not just a political process but a human right. We cannot talk about global peace and equality when some regions are still being managed like outposts of distant powers.
The Secretary General urged the committee to find new ways to speed up the process because the old methods seem to be moving at a snail’s pace.
The struggle for self-determination in Western Sahara and other territories
Among the seventeen territories mentioned, Western Sahara remains the largest and most populated. This particular issue is very close to home for us in Africa because it involves a neighbor on our own continent.
The struggle in Western Sahara has been going on for years and it has caused plenty of diplomatic tension across the region. Apart from Western Sahara, the list includes places like American Samoa, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands. Others are the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, and New Caledonia.
Each of these places has its own unique story but the common thread is that they are still under the administration of other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Guterres emphasized that the UN must listen to the voices of the people in these territories to understand what they truly want for their future.
Moving from promises to action for the seventeen non self governing regions
It is one thing to make big speeches in New York but it is another thing to see real change on the ground. The UN Chief called on the administering powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to make sure that the decolonization process is transparent and fair.
He mentioned that the world is currently facing many challenges like climate change and economic instability which hit these small territories even harder because they do not have full control over their resources.
As we look towards the rest of 2026, the hope is that this renewed push from the very top of the UN will lead to actual results. It is time for the international community to move beyond big grammar and take the necessary steps to ensure that every human being, regardless of where they live, can enjoy the dignity of self rule. Freedom should not be a luxury but a standard for everyone.
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