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Western Sahara
Picture Credit: UN Photo/MINURSO In 1975, after a century of colonial rule in Western Sahara, Spain agreed to partition the colony between Morocco and Mauritania without consulting the local popluations. The pro-independence Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, opposed the secret deal. It launched an armed liberation struggle and declared the independent Saharan Arab Democratic Republic. In 1978, weary of fighting the insurgents, Mauritania renounced its territorial claims but Morocco then took control of the entire territory. Polisario continued to fight against Moroccan forces until 1991, when the UN brokered a ceasefire and outlined a settlement plan, calling for a referendum on independence. The UN also established MINURSO, the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara, to monitor and implement the peace plan. Although both Morocco and the Polisario accepted the plan, the referendum did not take place due to disagreement over voter identification. Eyeing Western Sahara's rich phosphate mines, fishing resources and potential oil reserves, Morocco insisted that some of its nationals be allowed to vote in the referendum and it delayed talks aimed at resolving the issues. Strong economic and security relations of both the US and France with Morocco prompted these two big powers to adopt pro-Morocco positions. In 2001, UN special envoy James Baker, a former US Secretary of State, proposed a new "Framework Agreement," giving five years of autonomy to Sahara within Morocco, followed by a referendum. While the US and France backed the proposal, the Polisario rejected it. In 2004, the UN Security Council reaffirmed its support for the 1991 UN settlement plan, allowing the people of Western Sahara to determine the future of the disputed territory in a referendum. May 2005 saw Sahrawi demonstrations openly calling for independence. The Security Council passed Resolution 1720 in October 2006 reaffirming commitment to self-determination but stopped short of coercing Morocco to grant independence. In February 2007, Morocco advised France, the US, Spain and Great Britain on its plan for autonomy and submitted a written proposal to the Security Council in April 2007. UN-mediated talks outside of New York during the summer of 2007 ended inconclusively, with Polisario rejecting any solution short of a referendum for independence.
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Key Documents Security Council Resolution 1813 on Western Sahara (April 30, 2008)
Although there has been a lack of progress in negotiations between pro-independence Polasario Front and Morocco on the future of Western Sahara, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1813 extending the UN referendum mission (MINURSO) until April 30, 2009. The Resolution reiterates the Secretary General’s demand that the two sides negotiate “without precondition and in good faith” to implement an independence poll for the people of Western Sahara.Report of the Secretary General on the Situation Concerning Western Sahara (April 14, 2008)
Despite the presence of a UN referendum mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), there has been little progress towards the implementation of an independence poll in the country, says Ban Ki-moon. Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front remain deadlocked in negotiations over rival claims for the resource-rich region. Ban recommends that the Security Council extends the mandate for the peacekeeping mission, and urges the two parties to enter intensive and substantive negotiations over the details of implementing the poll.Report of the Secretary General on the Status and Progress of the Negotiations on Western Sahara (January 25, 2008)
This report by Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon states that Morocco and the rebel group Frente Polisario remain deadlocked over rival claims for resource-rich Western Sahara. Ban notes that their positions remain “far apart” on ways to implement proposed Security Council resolutions, which call for a negotiated political solution to provide “self-determination of the people of West Sahara.”Report of the Secretary General Concerning the Situation in Western Sahara (April 19, 2006)
In this report, Secretary General Kofi Annan acknowledges that the UN – after spending US$ 600 million in the last 15 years in Western Sahara - has failed to broker a peace deal between Morocco and the Frente Polisaro rebels over the West African territory. Annan believes that the only way to break the deadlock is for the UN to halt its efforts to revive a peace plan and instead push for Morocco to negotiate directly with the region’s rebels. Despite the lack of progress, Annan urges the Security Council not to give up on Western Sahara, saying it must now focus on pushing the two sides to negotiate.Report of the Secretary General on the Situation Concerning Western Sahara (October 16, 2003)
This report highlights interaction between the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Polisario and Morocco. The report praises long-overdue confidence-building measures, such as family visits between refugee camps and the Western Saharan territory.
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Articles 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | Archived Articles 2008
Western Sahara’s Conflict Traps Refugees in Limbo (June 4, 2008)
Morocco uses Sahwari refugees to enhance its claim to sovereignty over oil-rich Western Sahara, according to the New York Times. Morocco and a US-based lobbying firm brought five refugees to the UN in June 2008 to talk of their suffering at the hands of the opposition Polissario Front in the region. However, rather than a genuine humanitarian concern, the article shows that the “Moroccan American Centre for Policy” represents the Moroccan government and promotes US business opportunities in Western Sahara.How Autonomous Is Autonomy? The Western Sahara Dispute in a Bind (April 2008)
This Middle East Institute paper offers differing perspectives on the dispute between Morocco and the pro-independence Polissario Front over Western Sahara. One commentator, Robert Holley, argues that limited autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan rule is the only solution. In contrast, Stephen Zunes states that Morocco wishes to claim rich natural resources in the area, and that support from the US and France at the Security Council allows Morocco to renege on the promise of an independence referendum for Western Sahara.2007
W. Sahara Independence Movement to Review Strategy (December 5, 2007)
Western Sahara’s rebel movement Polisario, wants independence from Morocco. Since 1991, this resource-rich territory has been has been under UN peacekeeping oversight (MINURSO) due to the Polisario struggle against Moroccan rule. The Security Council has discussed the issue, but remains divided. While the US and France support Morocco, the majority of Council members does not. (Reuters)UN Security Council Extends Peacekeepers Mandate in Western Sahara, Urges Negotiations (November 1, 2007)
Since the 1991 UN-negotiated cease-fire in Western Sahara, the Moroccan government and Polisario Front (PF) rebels have held two rounds of peace talks without reaching any agreement. Morocco only agrees to give the Saharawi people limited autonomy. But, the PF rebels want independence, or at least greater autonomy. The UN Security Council extended its peacekeeping force in Western Sahara until April 2008, and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked for greater productive negotiations. Inside the Council, South Africa defends the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people, while the US and France support the Moroccan government. (Associated Press)The Future of Western Sahara (July 20, 2007)
The UN Security Council, the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice and the African Union have long recognized Western Sahara’s right to self-determination. In order to avoid granting independence during ongoing talks, Casablanca has proposed an autonomy plan to Western Sahara. This plan would keep the region under Moroccan sovereignty. The people of Western Sahara are unlikely to accept the proposal, but US and French support for Morocco prevents the UN Security Council from taking any effective action. (Foreign Policy in Focus)UN Appears to Backtrack on Western Sahara Autonomy (June 30, 2007)
The United Nations has reissued a report on Western Sahara negotiations, omitting Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s endorsement of an autonomy proposal. The report focuses on the issue of sovereignty as the root of the decades-old dispute between Morocco and Polisario Front. (Mail and Guardian)UN Sahara Talks Stay Alive, More Planned in August (June 20, 2007)
According to this Reuters article, Washington’s interests motivate UN pressure on Morocco and Polisario Front to decide the Western Sahara’s status. The US believes that the Western Saharan conflict obstructs cooperation from North African states on resisting terrorist groups near the Sahara. But talks in Manhasset, New York led only to the promise of more talks in August. Polisario Front official Mahfoud Ali Beiba says that a referendum represents a good compromise between Casablanca’s insistence on Western Saharan autonomy within Morocco, and Polisario Front’s quest for independence. But the two parties cannot agree on who could vote in such a referendum.Western Sahara: Out of the Impasse (June 11, 2007)
Morocco and Polisario Front will renew talks on a Western Saharan settlement. However, this International Crisis Group report warns that talks will prove unfruitful until the UN Security Council either reinvigorates or reconsiders its pro-referendum position. To escape stagnation, the report argues that the Security Council must either vigorously pursue its official position of self-determination for Western Saharans, or delegate its current responsibility for conflict settlement to the parties involved.Morocco, Polisario Front Agree to Hold Talks For First Time Over Western Sahara (April 30, 2007)
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution calling for Morocco and the POLISARIO front to hold talks over the future of the Western Sahara region. Although both sides are willing to negotiate, the Moroccan government has not agreed to a referendum on the issue of the region’s independence or autonomy. The POLISARIO front insists that a referendum is the only way forward. The US asserts that it has a strong interest in resolving the dispute because of “terrorist groups expanding their presence into North Africa.” (Associated Press)Proposals to Resolve the Conflict in the Western Sahara (April 17, 2007)
Magharebia compares the plans submitted to the Security Council by Morocco and the POLISARIO front as the Council prepares to debate the future of the Western Sahara. Morocco proposes autonomy for the region but wants to keep Moroccan sovereignty and firmly rejects any debate on full independence. POLISARIO insists that a referendum is the only answer to the issue of self-determination while underlining its desire to find a solution that is also acceptable to Morocco.Morocco: Country to Present Saharawi Autonomy Plan to Security Council (April 10, 2007)
Morocco is to present a plan granting substantial autonomy to the Western Sahara to the United Nations Security Council. While many countries including France, Spain and the United States have praised the plan as a solution to the conflict with the POLISARIO, South Africa reaffirms its support for the right of the Saharawi people to determine their own future, insisting that the principle of self-determination is an inviolable principle enshrined in the UN Charter. (BuaNews)Western Sahara Between Autonomy and Intifada (March 16, 2007)
Jacob Mundy’s article for MERIP deplores that the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)’s continued presence has not hastened the process of referendum on independence of the region from Morocco. Mundy reports that even if The Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro (POLISARIO) does win the referendum, Morocco may still refuse to leave the territory. Morocco is set to present its proposed plan on autonomy to the Security Council in April 2007.
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2006
Deserted in Western Sahara (March 6, 2006)
The Polisario Front, which seeks an independent Western Sahara, has implied it may resume hostilities if a diplomatic solution on the territory’s future status is not reached soon. Citing “renewed Moroccan intransigence,” the Polisario urges the UN to pressure Morocco to follow through on the 1991 UN-backed agreement to hold a referendum on whether Western Sahara should remain under Rabat’s control or become an independent state. The longer the stalemate continues, the more the Saharawi people get frustrated by what they see as the international community’s flagging efforts to address their claims. Most Saharawis feel like time for diplomatic efforts has run out: “from children to adults, everyone will tell you they want war.” (openDemocracy)More Talks Ahead in Western Sahara Impasse - UN Envoy (January 18, 2006)
Peter van Walsum succeeded James Baker as UN special envoy for Western Sahara. Baker resigned the post after seven years of unsuccessful efforts to reach an agreement on the territory’s future status. Although van Walsum does not foresee any breakthroughs in the near future, he reiterated that more talks between the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front independence movement were the only way out of the deadlock over the desert territory. (Reuters)Western Sahara Impasse (January 2006)
The Algeria-backed independence movement Polisario Front and the Moroccan Government remain unwilling to make any sacrifices to end the territorial deadlock over Western Sahara. Since May 2005 the Saharawi people have organized a series of demonstrations in major Western Saharan towns calling for secession from Morocco. Le Monde diplomatique wonders if the violence with which these were put down will reawaken the armed liberation struggle.
Back to the top MINURSO Background - UN’s official page on Western Sahara and the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. Western Sahara Referendum Support Association - News, documents, and background of the conflict.
Western Sahara Online - News, analysis, history and links.
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