The Western Sahara conflict is one of the longest-running territorial disputes in Africa, involving the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, which represents the Sahrawi people's aspirations for independence. The conflict has deep historical roots and significant regional implications, involving both local and international actors.
The conflict over Western Sahara dates back to the colonial era. In the late 19th century, Spain colonized the region, known then as the Spanish Sahara. The indigenous Sahrawi people, a nomadic Berber group, lived in the desert, and their tribal territories were divided by colonial borders. As decolonization movements swept across Africa in the mid-20th century, the Sahrawi people began to demand independence from Spanish rule.
In 1973, the Polisario Front, a nationalist movement advocating for the independence of Western Sahara, was founded. The group launched an armed struggle against Spanish colonial rule, seeking self-determination for the Sahrawi people. However, in 1975, as Spain prepared to decolonize the region, Morocco and Mauritania laid claim to Western Sahara, citing historical ties to the territory. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that there was no basis for either Morocco or Mauritania to claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, and that the Sahrawi people had the right to self-determination.
In November 1975, King Hassan II of Morocco organized the "Green March," a mass demonstration of over 350,000 Moroccan civilians into Western Sahara to assert Morocco's claim to the territory. Faced with mounting pressure, Spain signed the Madrid Accords, agreeing to withdraw from Western Sahara and divide the territory between Morocco and Mauritania. This decision was made without consulting the Sahrawi people or the Polisario Front.
The Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, rejected the division of Western Sahara and declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976. This led to a prolonged armed conflict between the Polisario Front and the forces of Morocco and Mauritania. In 1979, Mauritania withdrew from the conflict and renounced its claims to the region, leaving Morocco in control of most of Western Sahara.
In 1991, a United Nations-brokered ceasefire was reached between Morocco and the Polisario Front, ending the active phase of the armed conflict. The ceasefire agreement included a plan to hold a referendum on self-determination, allowing the people of Western Sahara to choose between independence and integration with Morocco. However, disagreements over voter eligibility and other logistical issues have repeatedly delayed the referendum, and it has never been held.
Morocco currently controls approximately 80% of Western Sahara, including most of the territory's natural resources, such as phosphates and fishing areas. The Polisario Front controls the remaining 20%, which consists of sparsely populated desert areas. The region is divided by a sand berm, or wall, built by Morocco, which is heavily fortified and guarded by the Moroccan military.
In recent years, the Western Sahara conflict has seen renewed tensions. In 2020, the Polisario Front announced that it was resuming armed struggle against Morocco, citing frustration with the stalled peace process and Morocco's actions in the region. Skirmishes have since taken place along the berm, but no large-scale conflict has erupted.
The diplomatic landscape has also shifted, with several countries, including the United States in 2020, recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This move was part of a broader agreement involving Morocco normalizing relations with Israel. The recognition of Moroccan sovereignty has been controversial and has drawn condemnation from Algeria and the Polisario Front, who view it as undermining the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The African Union (AU) recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a member state, while the United Nations continues to regard Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. The UN has repeatedly called for negotiations to reach a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution, but progress has been limited, and the situation remains a frozen conflict.
The Western Sahara conflict has led to significant humanitarian consequences. Thousands of Sahrawis live in refugee camps in southwestern Algeria, near the town of Tindouf. These camps, which have existed for decades, depend heavily on international aid, and the conditions are harsh. The prolonged conflict has left generations of Sahrawis without a permanent home or a clear future.
The conflict also has broader regional implications, contributing to tensions between Morocco and Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front and hosts the Sahrawi refugee camps. Relations between the two countries have often been strained, and the Western Sahara issue has been a significant point of contention, affecting regional cooperation and stability in North Africa.
As of 2024, the Western Sahara conflict remains unresolved, with no immediate prospects for a lasting solution. Morocco continues to invest in infrastructure and economic development in the areas it controls, promoting its vision of autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. Meanwhile, the Polisario Front insists on the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, including the option of full independence.
The Western Sahara conflict is a reminder of the unfinished business of decolonization in Africa and the challenges of balancing territorial claims, national identity, and the right to self-determination. Despite the ceasefire, the situation remains tense, and a lasting resolution will require genuine negotiations and international support for a fair and just solution.