By Lyndsey Haas
Abstract:
Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara has caused conflict since 1975, and it remains unresolved. However, the conflict truly represents a broader struggle between Algeria and Morocco, which politically hate one another but have much to gain by integrating their economies. Meanwhile, international actors have been reluctant to commit to any particular side of the convoluted triangle.
Summary:
Morocco, a characteristically strong, stable government in notoriously unstable Africa, has occupied the Western Sahara region since 1975, when it militarily pressured Spain out of the region. A sixteen year war ensued, in which Western Sahara attempted to gain independence from occupying Morocco. Since 1975, many of the people of Western Sahara, ethnic Sahrawis, have fled the area to live in refugee camps beyond the reach of Morocco’s police raids, and the area has been repopulated by Moroccans: Morocco monetarily incentivized people and businesses to occupy the Western Sahara region (particularly its primary city, Laayoune). The separatist political party, Polisario, which has its roots in the year struggle for independence, continues to campaign for sovereignty of an independent Western Sahara (called the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR).
The ongoing struggle between Polisario and the Moroccan government, though, has never been a monogamous affair. In fact, Polisario received heavy assistance from Algeria both during the war and after, and many believe that an independent SADR would exist only as a puppet of Algeria. Relations between Morocco and Algeria, the two largest countries in the Maghreb region, have been icy for some time. Morocco’s blaming Algeria for terrorist attacks in Morocco in 1994 spurred border closures and expulsion of Algerians in Morocco, and Algeria has never forgiven the Moroccan government. However, economic relations seem to infiltrate the icy political divide, since Algerian businessmen vacation in Morocco, and Moroccan investors seek to tap into Algeria’s natural resources.
International involvement in the dispute has a long history, as well. During the Cold War, Morocco was viewed as an ally of the West and Algeria with the USSR (although Algeria claimed to be nonaligned). This led some United States officials to brand Polisario as a Soviet ally and support the Moroccan occupation. Since that time, the United States has changed its position many times. Conflicting interests include claimed human rights violations during police crackdowns on political dissidents in Western Sahara and the desire to support Algeria on a path to economic growth and stability. Likewise, other countries both within Africa and outside of it have waffled in their support of the separatist movement. The U.N. has maintained a presence in Western Sahara since 1991, and aims for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Baker Plan, articulated by UN envoy James Baker, suggests that this occur through either the establishment of an autonomous region of Morocco, or the complete independence of a sovereign Western Sahara.
Summary:
The United States, as well as other international actors, have long waffled in their support of an independent Western Sahara. The (fair) assessment of the major potential problems with both resolutions (continued human rights abuses if Morocco retains control, or an Algerian puppet state if Western Sahara wins sovereignty) have driven the international community, including the U.S., largely to disengage–no international actor wants to be blamed for an unsuccessful resolution, and none really want to alienate either Algeria or Morocco. The (in my opinion, overly-optimistic) hope seems to be that increasing economic relations between Morocco and Algeria will soothe their tensions so that all parties can agree to a peaceable resolution. However, it seems likely that status quo, which UN envoy Christopher Ross terms “unsustainable” will indeed sustain itself.
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