Tensions are heating up between the pro-independence Polisario Front and Morocco in the Western Sahara, with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s (SADR) army breaking a 29-year-old ceasefire to declare war on Morocco.
In 1975, as African states continued the scramble to define their borders and after colonial power Spain withdrew from the region, Morocco claimed virtually 80% of the Western Sahara. However, the remaining area fell to the de-facto territory of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose national liberation movement is known as the Polisario Front.
Since then, the Sahrawis have been in a tense coexistence with Morocco. A United Nations (UN)-brokered ceasefire was established in 1991, with a path towards a referendum on the region’s future. However, this referendum was never set up, leaving the concerns of both sides unaddressed.
For Morocco, the region represents a crucial economic foothold in terms of phosphate reserves, fisheries, and offshore oil. At the same time, the Guerguerat border crossing between the Western Sahara and Mauritania runs through a ‘buffer zone’ between Morocco and the SADR, demonstrating how the area also represents a crucial trade route to other African nations.
The importance of the Guerguerat pass is underscored by the fact that it is patrolled by UN personnel in order to ensure the maintenance of the ceasefire. The SADR, however, does not recognize it as a legitimate border crossing, with Polisario Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek saying, “It is not an international or even regional road. It is being used to loot the natural resources of the Sahrawi people.”
The Sahrawis, on the other hand, backed by Algeria, wish to formally establish their own fully self-governed, autonomous nation that is recognized by other international actors. While Morocco has offered to provide autonomy to the SADR, this deal has been rejected by the Sahrawis, who wish to attain full sovereignty.
Moreover, it appears that their patience for a referendum to finally be set up is wearing thin, as they been blocking the Guerguerat pass for around three weeks now. In fact, it is these actions that stirred Morocco to initiate a military operation—backed by 1,000 soldiers and 200 vehicles—to unblock the border crossing into Mauritania, which in turn prompted the Polisario Front to declare war on Morocco.
Morocco, for its part, is attempting to circumvent any possible confrontation by building a 2,700 km wall that “cuts through the Western Sahara”, which Prime Minister (PM) Saad-Eddine El Othmani said will provide safer and swifter passage for “civilian and commercial traffic in Guerguerat between Morocco and Mauritania”.
The SADR put out a statement on Wednesday urging “all states to abstain from any activity on Sahrawi national territory, which is in a situation of open war” and reaffirming the Sahrawis “legitimate right to self defense in accordance with international law”. Nevertheless, the SADR noted that it is “open to all African and international efforts for a peaceful settlement to the conflict”.
This has done little to ease tensions, with firing being reported from both sides. In fact, the Polisario Front claimed that it had “inflicted human and material losses” and is sending “thousands of volunteers” to join its armed fighters. In reply, Moroccan King Mohammed VI warned that Morocco “remains firmly determined to react, with the greatest severity, and in self-defense, against any threat to its security”.
The SADR’s Foreign Minister, Ould Salek, maintains that “the war only started as a consequence of Morocco’s aggression and action in Guerguerat,” adding, “The end of the war is now linked to the end of the illegal occupation of parts of the territory of the Sahrawi Republic.” In addition, Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali denounced Morocco for “seriously undermining not only the ceasefire and related military agreements but also any chances of achieving a peaceful and lasting solution to the decolonization question of the Western Sahara”.
The UN has reacted to escalating tensions with alarm, and Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric urged both sides to honor the ceasefire. These sentiments have been echoed by UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO, which called on both sides to “exercise restraint”.
However, given the Sahrawis’ repudiation of the ceasefire and Rabat’s remarks that “there is no political path” to independence for the SADR, there is unlikely to be a swift resolution to this bubbling crisis.
Morocco Nears War With Polisario Front in Western Sahara After End to 29-Year Ceasefire
The Moroccan army launched a military offensive to force the Polisario Front to unblock the Guerguerat border crossing to Mauritania.
November 20, 2020
IMAGE SOURCE: FAROUK BATICHE / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGESWhile Morocco has offered to provide autonomy to the SADR, this deal has been rejected by the Sahrawis, who wish to attain full sovereignty.