Image of Omar Hilale

Omar Hilale (Tamazight: ⵄⵓⵎⴰⵔ ⵀⵉⵍⴰⵍ; Arabic: عمر هلال; born 1 January 1951 in Agadir) is a Moroccan career diplomat. He has been Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York since he was appointed in this position in April 2014. He used to be the permanent representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva.[1]

Hilale is a graduate of the Mohammed V University in Rabat where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science in 1974. He served in many diplomatic posts such as ambassador to Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, between 1996 and 2001.[1] He was the General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation between 2005 and 2008.[1] In November 2008 he became Representative of Morocco to the UN in Geneva.[1] On 8 April 2020, he was appointed co-facilitator for the process of strengthening the United Nations human rights treaty bodies.[2]

In February 2021 he presented a letter to the UN from on behalf of Morocco, alleging that the Polisario Front fabricated reports of armed conflict and human rights violations against the Sahrawi people and incited violence in league with Algerian state media. He specifically denounced Sultana Khaya as "a supporter of violence" and for using "human rights for political ends".[3][4] Moroccan authorities have kept her under de facto house arrest since 2020,[5][6] and Khaya has been repeatedly attacked, subject to sexual assault and raids on her house, as reported by a number of human rights groups.[7][5]

In July 2021, he expressed support for "self-determination" of the Kabyle people, leading to Algeria recalling its ambassador in Morocco.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "biohilale" (PDF). evenium.com. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale Appointed Co-Facilitator for Process of Strengthening UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies". Maghreb Arabe Press. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  3. ^ Hatim, Yahia (2021-02-25). "Morocco Exposes Polisario, Algeria's Propaganda in Letter to UN". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  4. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (2021-10-15). "Sakharov Prize: EU Rejects Candidacy of Polisario Activist Sultana Khaya". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  5. ^ a b "Morocco/Western Sahara: Further information: Sahrawi activist raped by Moroccan forces: Sultana Khaya". Amnesty International. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  6. ^ "Western Sahara: Harassment of Independence Activist". Human Rights Watch. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  7. ^ "Sultana Khaya". Front Line Defenders. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  8. ^ "Algeria recalls Morocco ambassador over Berber comments". The New Arab. 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
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