“Ireland does not recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,” said the Irish embassy in Morocco on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, explaining that “the visit of Polisario Front representatives to Ireland last week was a private visit, not on foot of an official invitation.
Polisario leader Brahim Ghali has recently visited Dublin aboard a plane chartered by the Algerian presidency, and claimed that the visit was official and upon the invitation of Ireland.
The Algerian media massively posted a photo of Ghali with the current Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, taken in the presidential palace Áras an Uachtaráin and hyped up the meeting as a recognition of the self-proclaimed SADR.
“Ireland’s long-standing position on Sahara is one of full support for the UN law process and Secretary General’s efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue,” added the Irish embassy.
Brahim Ghali did not meet with any member of the coalition government led by Leo Varadkar, nor with other Irish officials including Micheál Martin, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Defense.