Read how and why Western Sahara continues to be a colony of neighboring Morocco more than 40 years after Spain, its initial colonial power, left. 1901), L’expertise universitaire, l’exigence journalistique, AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie), Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Rabat hopes it can push those who oppose to reconsider their options in favour of Western Sahara becoming an autonomous region, and weakening the possibility of changes being made to its Autonomy Plan. The Western Sahara dispute pits Morocco, which had annexed the former Spanish-controlled territory, against the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the territory with the backing of Algeria. Through this strategy, the kingdom has been gathering continental support, primarily from Francophone African states. Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for decades over control of Western Sahara, until a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire froze the conflict and left Rabat in control of most of the desert area. • In 2013, OCP made U.S. $7.1 billion in profits. Why Morocco does not organize a free and fair referéndum in what is considered as the Africa´s last colony, because the sahrawi people is struggling for decades for a free and independent country … Western Sahara is not a independent country Its a state and part of Morocco. Hong Kong revised entry rules for flight crew, Risk assessing Iran ops – the UIA 737 may have been shot down, Operational Summary – Relief flights to the Bahamas, The countries exempt from England’s travel quarantine, Fuel Facts: Let's get to the (freezing) point. Western Sahara and the Polisario enjoy the backing of numerous human rights groups around the globe. As diplomacy scholar R. Joseph Huddleston has written: The front lines have moved from the arid desert to the realm of media and diplomacy. Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) spoke on the Senate floor about the struggle in Western Sahara. This extreme measure was taken in response to a December 2015 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to suspend an agricultural trade agreement between the EU and Morocco because it included the Western Sahara (WS) within its territorial scope. Not much of a warning – just a recommendation that you don’t fly too low on some airways. While the SADR is not an internationally recognised state, it continues to symbolically represent the Sahrawis’ self-determination endeavour. So why do they want to fight? Why Morocco really wants back in the African Union The king of Morocco's recent declaration that his country wants to return to the African Union after a 32-year absence appears to be a political maneuver to gain ground in the Western Sahara dispute. The territory was formerly known as Spanish Sahara until 1976 when the Spanish colonists withdrew paving the way for annexation by Morocco. It is also controlled and administered by Morocco there is no need to claim independence. In the top right corner of this building in the city of Casablanca there is a picture of current King Mohammed VI. The conflict pushed most Sahrawis to seek refuge in Algeria, near the town of Tindouf, where they settled in camps organised by the Polisario and partly funded by the UN. Morocco’s border with Algeria is closed. Continue to monitor Safeairspace.net as this situation develops. Western Sahara is effectively divided straight down the middle, literally by a wall. The two have never gotten along. Why did the court discard the various accords Morocco had signed with the English, the French, the Russians, the Portuguese, the Dutch, etc. Worryingly, there is a whole bunch of similar airways in the conflict zone that are controlled by the Dakar FIR which have no warnings yet. Moreover most Sahrawis do not want to disunite with Morocco. Because it is the diplomatic and democratic way to do things not by force. The Western Sahara conflict is an ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco. The Western Sahara dispute was the reason why Morocco left the AU's predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), in the first place. The Saharawi people were expelled from their homes by force, including the use of napalm. Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for decades over control of Western Sahara, until a 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire froze the conflict and left Rabat in control of most of the desert area. The two have never gotten along. To make matters worse, they are suspicious that Morocco are flying drones over their territory – something that has been denied by Morocco. Since the 1930s, Moroccan Nationalists have envisioned a rebirth of the Moroccan Empires of old starting with Allal al-Fassi’s Greater Morocco dream which played a major role in Istiqlal’s official ideology. http://bit.ly/1OWEAecAre We Nearing The End Of Capitalism? The UN plan… Morocco has occupied Western Sahara since 1975 in violation of resolutions by the UN Security Council and a decision by the International Court of Justice. Western Sahara is PART of Morocco. This reintegration has happened despite the fact that Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara is contrary to the AU’s protocols, which support the principle of territorial integrity. CREATED: 25 NOV 18:18 2020. Information It refers to the territory it controls as its "southern provinces". – OpEd . There sure is. The ceasefire has held, but there still has not been a referendum. Once investment or enhanced trade deals were signed, states withdrew their recognition of the SADR. Today the conflict is dominated by unarmed civil campaigns of the Polisario Front and their self-proclaimed SADR state to gain fully recognized independence for Western Sahara. A former Spanish colony, it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. A cease-fire and proposed referendum bring promise for peace in the territory, but U.S. leadership is needed to insure its … For example, religion and Berber culture. Morocco stepped in to claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory nearly its size on its southern border. WESTERN SAHARA PHOSPHATE • PotashCorp purchases phosphate from a Moroccan state-owned company called Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP). Faced with consistent pressure from Morocco and Mauritania and itself undergoing a period of domestic uncertainty, Spain agreed to the partition of Western Sahara between the two countries despite a World Court ruling that Morocco’s and Mauritania’s legal claims to the Spanish Sahara were tenuous and did not negate the right to self-determination by the Sahrawis. In the parts of the territory controlled by Rabat, Sahrawis face systematic repression by the authorities. The Polisario themselves want the fight to escalate which should be a warning sign for those in airplanes above them. It also committed to organise a referendum of self-determination for the Sahrawis. It is unlikely they would win against the Moroccan army. The people living in the western Sahara have more in common with Morocco than they did with the Spanish. Email us at messages@ops.group. The big deal is that the Polisario are likely to have access to anti-aircraft weaponry left over from the previous war. Question? Instead it is often referred as “The Southern Provinces” and there is never a dashed line on the map of Morocco. The U.S. approach to the Western Sahara dispute for the past thirty years offers many insights into U.S. policy toward Morocco. The Polisario made headlines last week when they declared war on Morocco. The Moroccan government invaded and has occupied the Western Sahara since Spain withdrew in 1975. If you’re operating in the area, pay close attention to the risks involved. Morocco weren’t happy, and breached the ceasefire agreement by sending forces into the demilitarized zone to remove them. In doing so, it invoked ancestral cultural and political ties. One of Morocco’s biggest diplomatic steps was reintegration into the African Union (AU) in 2017. @JKP. Now a row over a remote desert truck stop is prompting talk of a return to war. It has the potential to combine both parties’ demands. In March, Morocco threatened to withdraw troops from UN … Because Algeria sees Morocco as a threat and is worried over what the future may hold in store if Morocco succeeds in the Western Sahara. Right now it is escalating and shots are being fired. Brahim Ghali, the leader of a pro-independence group in Western Sahara, declared war on Morocco Saturday, breaking a decades-long ceasefire, the New York Times reports.. Why it matters: The declaration could reignite an armed struggle and exacerbate years of animosity between Morocco and its neighbor Algeria, which hosts the independence group, the Polisario Front. The North Atlantic Datalink Mandate – What are the rules? IT IS RECOMMENDED TO AVOID OVERFLIGHT AT FLT LEVELS BLW FL200 ON THE FOLLOWING ROUTES: UY601, UN728 AND UT975. Why Morocco really wants back in the African Union. At first glance, it would seem like nothing has changed since 1991. Since Morocco invaded Western Sahara it has built a 1,700-mile desert barrier keeping Sahrawis out of the resource-rich west Published: 22 Sep 2018 Build a wall across the Sahara? Since 2016, King Mohammed VI of Morocco has been personally active in enhancing his country’s economic presence throughout Africa. Morocco stepped in to claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory nearly its size on its southern border. But, of course, Western Sahara is a very rich territory with all sorts of resources, renewable and non-renewable. On 31 October 1975, Morocco and Mauritania invaded Western Sahara as Spain (the former colonial power) looked on. While no one has died because of military clashes since 1991, the infighting has continued by other means. All things considered, Morocco’s Autonomy Plan – with some modifications, including of its name – appears to be the most viable solution to the conflict. Morocco controls one side, while the region’s independence movement (the Polisario) controls the other. The Moroccan government refers to Western Sahara only as "Moroccan Sahara", the "Saharan provinces" , or the "Southern Provinces". In doing so, it invoked ancestral cultural and political ties. But it cannot be implemented as presented. The first argument that these people put forth is that Moroccans are “occupying” Western Sahara and that Morocco has sought to “annex” the territory. From then until 1991, there was a war between the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front, which fought and campaigned for independence. The Sahara Desert is the largest and the hottest desert in the world. The future of the movement is unsure. Morocco … Université de Montréal apporte des fonds en tant que membre fondateur de The Conversation CA-FR. Droits d'auteur © 2010–2020, The Conversation France (assoc. 33 years ago, Morocco quit the AU's predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity because of the Western Sahara. If the conflict escalates further, this is likely to complicate things. Support for the Western Sahara as an independent state has ebbed over the years because of the growing importance of Morocco's $110 billion economy – the fifth largest in Africa. Morocco wants Western Sahara to remain as an autonomous, self-governing part of its territory, in a fashion similar to the autonomous communities in Spain… Over the years, Morocco has maintained a stiff position on its claim to Western Sahara. Years of military affront between Morocco and the Polisario followed, leading to Morocco controlling 80% of the territory until the United Nations (UN) intervened. (El Pais) Western Sahara's Conflict Traps Refugees in Limbo (June 4, 2008) Through my discussion with some of the petitioners who come to speak every year to the United Nations Special Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in defense of the Polisario, I realized how lacking these people’s knowledge about the Western Sahara is. It has relied on Algerian support for decades and, while it is likely that Algiers will continue to support the Sahrawis’ self-determination case, it is unclear how far it is willing to go. The Polisario want independence and were at war with the Moroccan Government for a very long time, until a fragile ceasefire agreement in 1991. The United States has provided military, economic, and diplomatic support for Morocco’s war effort. Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco, just north along the coast, since 1975. 25 NOV 18:18 2020 UNTIL 09 DEC 18:15 2020 ESTIMATED. Université de Montréal apporte un financement en tant que membre adhérent de The Conversation CA. Écrivez un article et rejoignez une communauté de plus de 117 700 universitaires et chercheurs de 3 797 institutions. Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) spoke on the Senate floor about the struggle in Western Sahara. But an imposed solution would not guarantee lasting stability in the region. The king of Morocco's recent declaration that his country wants to return to the African Union after a 32-year absence appears to be a political maneuver to gain ground in the Western Sahara dispute. Morocco IS WESTERN SAHARA. Although the conflict has been escalating for a couple of weeks, it is the first ‘official’ warning: B7433/20 – OPERATORS ARE REQ TO EXERCISE PARTICULAR CAUTION DURING FLT OPERATIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AS PART OF FIR CANARIAS. The Western Sahara, controlled by the Spanish since 1884 and by Morocco since 1975, is home to the Sahrawi, a collective name for the indigenous peoples living in and around the region. While Morocco works to bring stability and growth, Algeria continues to oppose Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and uses the Polisario to do this. The plan received the immediate support of the international community, starting with the UN Security Council. As the war of attrition seems to be playing to Morocco’s advantage, the window of opportunity for the conflict to be resolved through a negotiated agreement is closing. And impatience is growing within the Polisario, whose confidence in the UN peace process seems to be at its lowest. Algeria support the Polisario, so the conflict has potential to grow beyond borders. The occupation sparked a guerrilla war between Morocco and Algeria's Polisario Front that ended in 1991 after the United Nations negotiated a ceasefire and deployed a peacekeeping force. This would prevent the creation of an independent Western Sahara by turning it into an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Morocco. Morocco occupied and annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and much of the southern portion of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. » Subscribe to NowThis World: http://go.nowth.is/World_SubscribeSubscribe to Sourcefed! It has worked hard in recent years to gather international support for its Autonomy Plan, submitted to the UN Secretary-General in 2007. Western Sahara is a non-autonomous territory whose political and legal status has yet to be determined through the United Nations. Western Sahara. Email is always easiest: a good one to use is messages@ops.group. Since then there has always been tension. http://bit.ly/1OWEAecAre We Nearing The End Of Capitalism? The Polisario immediately declared war on Morocco, and clashes began straight away. Western Sahara is thus not a case of frozen conflict – but rather, of a war of attrition. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that EU agreements and treaties with Morocco cannot apply to Western Sahara, dealing a major blow … The Polisario questioned Mauritania’s neutrality in 2019, after the country failed to mention the Western Sahara conflict during the 74th session of the General Assembly at the UN on September 24. Morocco could get sovereignty over the region and the Sahrawis could exert their self-determination. The Western Sahara conflict is an ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco.The conflict originated from an insurgency by the Polisario Front against Spanish colonial forces from 1973 to 1975 and the subsequent Western Sahara War against Morocco between 1975 and 1991. As much as the international community hopes for the termination of the conflict, it must refrain from opting for an easy fix. In February, the Kingdom of Morocco suspended diplomatic relations with the European Union. The United Nations considers Western Sahara a non-decolonized, non-self-governing territory. Picture: Groundhopping Merseburg, Flickr CC. Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for decades over control of Western Sahara, until a 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire froze the conflict and left Rabat in control of most of the desert area. It is also controlled and administered by Morocco there is no need to claim independence. This strategy also expands beyond the continent. Yet, things have been slowly and discreetly evolving in recent years at Morocco’s behest. Moreover most Sahrawis do not want to disunite with Morocco. In parallel, the Polisario’s position has been growing uncertain. He was forced to apologise. It’s been more than 40 years since Morocco claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara, setting off a conflict that seems no closer to resolution. October 30, 2011 August 2, 2017 Pambazuka News 0 Comments. The Saharawi people were expelled from their homes by force, including the use of napalm. Morocco Western Sahara FILE - In this May 20 2008 file photo, pro-independence Polisario Front rebel soldiers prepare tea in the Western Sahara region of Tifariti. If you include this disputed region, ... We want to hear what you think about this article. The Polisario made headlines last week when they declared war on Morocco. Recently a Polisario protest blocked a whole bunch of Moroccan truck drivers at the border with Mauritania, shutting down an essential route that connects Morocco to the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco, just north along the coast, since 1975. It left the body’s predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, in 1984 after the SADR was admitted as a member. The plan does not yet offer sufficient guarantees in terms of political rights and representation to the Polisario for it to agree. Rabat (AFP) For three decades, a UN-monitored ceasefire has kept a fragile peace in the disputed Western Sahara. » Subscribe to NowThis World: http://go.nowth.is/World_SubscribeSubscribe to Sourcefed! Morocco controls one side, while the region’s independence movement (the Polisario) controls the other. So, legally speaking the issue is crystal-clear to the point that no country in the world recognises the Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The old guard is likely to soon give way to younger leaders, who might prefer to take up arms for their cause. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. @JKP. On 31 October 1975, Morocco and Mauritania invaded Western Sahara as Spain (the former colonial power) looked on. The conflict originated from an insurgency by the Polisario Front against Spanish colonial forces from 1973 to 1975 and the subsequent Western Sahara War against Morocco between 1975 and 1991. Western Sahara is the second country in the world threatened most by water scarcity in the world. Morocco’s tactics have centred on diplomacy. Want to talk to us? On October 21, groups of Polisario Front’s supporters blocked the highway at Guergarat, in the extreme southwest of the Western Sahara. First of all Morocco does control western Sahara, or about 80% of it Defacto. He’s visited more than a dozen states, mostly located in sub-Saharan African, and secured trade deals and foreign direct investment. Western Sahara is effectively divided straight down the middle, literally by a wall. Western Sahara. A referendum has it negative points. Algeria is, after all, facing its own political crisis. The people of Western Sahara have been forced to live here, struggling to return to a homeland where they can determine their own future. There are currently three major airways affected. There has been no fighting in Western Sahara for 24 years, since a United Nations-monitored cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front, but residents say they want independence. A referendum has it negative points. “Morocco decided to invade the rest of Western Sahara because of its natural resources, phosphates and fishing. Since its return, Rabat has managed to garner support from 28 member states to push (unsuccessfully, so far) for the SADR’s expulsion. The weapons present a risk to aircraft as high as 12,000 feet. Key Points. In Morocco the name “Western Sahara” does not exist. This sparked one of the most important diplomatic crises involving a UN Secretary-General in the organisation’s history. Demonstrations supporting Western Sahara’s self-determination are not permitted. The people of Western Sahara have been forced to live here, struggling to return to a homeland where they can determine their own future. 125,000 people still live there to this day. The sky over Western Sahara airspace is split between two FIRs –GCCC/Canarias and GOOO/Dakar. The official position of the Kingdom of Morocco since 1963 is that all of Western Sahara is an integral part of the kingdom. Fuel Facts: Let’s get to the (freezing) point, The November Mega OpsChat – All the Links…. The AU struggles to implement its own directives, and Morocco is taking advantage of this. The other airway, UN728 is a direct track from the coast to GCTS/Tenerife which may be used by smaller aircraft or those doing tech stops in the Canary Islands. In 1975 Spain abandoned its colonies in North Africa, with the exception of the territories of Ceuta and Melilla. The Polisario, a politico-military organisation first created to fight off Spain, opposed Morocco’s claim. Morocco has occupied Western Sahara since 1975 in violation of resolutions by the UN Security Council and a decision by the International Court of Justice. Voir les partenaires de The Conversation France. ... morocco want the sahrawi from tindouf to return home and have a decent life, but that does nt benefit to … Water Scarcity in Morocco (Western Sahara) What is Water Scarcity? Sooner or later the people of Western Sahara shall overcome one day. In 2016, following a visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, Ban Ki-Moon declared that Morocco occupied Western Sahara. 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