The Western Sahara borders the countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania, a region in North Africa. It has been a subject of contention across the world mainly because of its claimed ownership. Geopolitically, Western Sahara is expressed through the ongoing international dispute that has characterized this territory ever since Spain cut its colonial ties in 1975 over fisheries and phosphates rich region. The territory has been subject to competing claims: Morocco’s and SADR-supporting self-determination movement called the Polisario Front. Such geopolitical complexity has a notable effect towards Western Sahara’s foreign relations.
The role of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)
The SADR was declared as such by the Polisario Front in 1976, and it was the viable administration of the freedom battle in Western Sahara. The SADR is headquartered in Tindouf, Algeria, and has been recognized by more than 80 nations at different times. However, some nations have since withdrawn or frozen their recognition due to political pressures, often from Morocco. The SADR joined the African Union (AU) in 1984 and is now a full member. Morocco withdrew from the AU in protest, although this membership has been crucial in giving it a forum for its diplomatic endeavors (it returned in 2017). Because of historical solidarity based on anti-colonial battles, the SADR is more well-known among Latin American and African nations. Countries like as South Africa, Cuba, and Algeria have continuously provided the SADR with material and diplomatic assistance. As the main supporter of the Polisario Front, Algeria in particular is vital, offering military, political, and humanitarian assistance. South Africa is adamantly opposed to Morocco’s claims and sees the situation in Western Sahara as an extension of the continent’s independence process.
Morocco’s diplomatic approach and claim
Morocco has vigorously undertaken diplomatic measures to strengthen its claim, seeing Western Sahara as its “southern provinces.” In order to get support for its autonomy plan, Rabat has used its economic and political might via trade agreements, infrastructure investments, and migratory cooperation. The independence proposition recommends Western Sahara’s self-administration under Moroccan power, which Morocco sees as a useful choice.
At the point when Morocco standardized ties with Israel in December 2020, the US, under President Donald Trump, recognized Moroccan power over Western Sahara. This marked a massive change in the diplomatic scene of the area. This was Morocco’s first formal endorsement of its claim by a Western state. In U.S. foreign policy, this stance is still controversial even if the Biden administration hasn’t said it officially. Morocco has also used pressure on other nations to stop recognizing the SADR as part of its approach. Specifically, Rabat was able to convince several countries in Africa and Latin America to endorse its standpoint by promising economic partnerships and giving them financial bribes. Morocco’s return to the AU was also a strategic move, given its objective of balancing the SADR’s influence in the bloc.
The united nations and the international community
Notwithstanding that the UN considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing area, resources are as yet being set up with respect to the circumstance in the Western Sahara. Under Council resolution goal 803 embraced in 1991, the Unified Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was made. The primary goal is to regulate the ceasefire and to oversee humanitarian help for refugees. These activities, however, and new advancements have been completely frozen in time, due to the discord over the processes of conducting the vote and the registering of voters. The European Union (EU) has decided to sit back and wait. The reasons are not clear yet, the EU has been active in seeking a resolution to the conflict through the military-led talks in New York without an escalation of tensions with Morocco. Nonetheless, the controversy arose in respect of the very economic partnership it advocates with Morocco, regarding primarily supportive agreements on agriculture and fisheries. Highlighting the conflict between legal requirements and economic objectives, the EU Court of Justice has decided that these accords cannot legitimately apply to Western Sahara without the permission of its people.
Global stakeholders and regional dynamics
Specifically, the struggles between Morocco and Algeria essentially affect the diplomatic relations in Western Sahara. Algeria has a long history of hostility and is a strong advocate for anti-colonial movements, which add to its unfaltering support for the Polisario Front. Regional collaboration and economic integration are impeded by this rivalry, which intensifies tensions across the Maghreb. China and Russia, for example, are neutral on the international scene and emphasize support for decisions headed by the UN. In contrast to their direct engagement in the Western Sahara crisis, their strategy is motivated by larger strategic goals in North Africa. Members of the Arab League are split; some, like Algeria, support the Polisario Front, while others, owing to similar political and economic interests, support Morocco.
Humanitarian concerns and civil society
Humanitarian issues have been brought on by the prolonged fighting, especially for Sahrawi refugees residing in camps close to Tindouf. The Western Sahara’s unsettled status continues to impede regional attempts toward sustainable development and peace, and these camps are highly dependent on foreign funding. The involvement of advocacy groups and civil society organizations is vital in maintaining the issue’s global attention. Human rights violations in the Moroccan-controlled regions are brought to light, and they urge fresh attempts to find a solution.
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