Western Sahara

This southern region of Morocco has historical ties to the Kingdom, which were interrupted by the occupation by Spain for 75 years. Now Morocco has undertaken a multi-tier and multiyear development program to improve the social, economic, and security environment in the area. Its re-entry into the Western Sahara is opposed by the Polisario Front, a band of militants that are a relic of the Cold War.
The Western Sahara dispute remains one of the longest-running conflicts in the world.  For nearly three decades, Morocco has sought to reclaim sovereignty over the area formerly known as the Spanish Sahara during 19th and 20th century colonization period, while the Polisario Front, an Algerian-backed resistance movement, has fought for separation and independence.  For a more detailed look at the conflict, its origins and key historical markers, please download the “Western Sahara Timeline”.

In 2007, Morocco presented a compromise autonomy proposal to the United Nations in an effort to restart the negotiation process with the Polisario Front and to bring the more than 30 year conflict to a peaceful resolution.  This proposal came in response to the UN Security Council’s call for the parties to “to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.” Since that proposal, the UN has conducted 4 rounds of negotiations and two rounds of informal talks, though little progress has been achieved.  In 2008, following the 4th round of negotiations, Dutch diplomat and then-UN Secretary General Personal Envoy for the Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, concluded in his report to the UN Security Council that “an independent Western Sahara is not an attainable goal.” 

Following this assessment, many in the international community, particularly France and the United States, urged Morocco and the Polisario Front to base future negotiations on the compromise autonomy proposal as the most viable solution.  US support for a negotiated political solution which provides autonomy for the Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty has been strong and unwavering through three presidential administrations—Clinton, Bush and now Obama.  The policy has also been overwhelmingly support by a bi partisan majority of the US House of Representatives in a 2007 letter signed by 173 Representatives and a 2009 letter signed by 233 Representatives.  Key foreign policy experts, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, have also expressed their strong support for Morocco’s compromise autonomy proposal.

Today, increased US and international support is needed to encourage the parties to the conflict to negotiate the compromise proposal on the table and arrive at a peaceful, definitive solution to the Western Sahara dispute. 

Background Information Expand
ESISC Report: “Credible Negotiatiator or Obstacle  2005 Report by the European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center (ESISC): “Credible Negotiations Partner or After-Effect of the Cold war and Obstacle to a Political Solution in Western Sahara.” (PDF, November 2005)

France Libertés Moroccan POW Report  In April 2003, the French NGO, France Libertés, conducted an "International Mission of Inquiry: The Conditions of Detentions of the Moroccan POWs Detained in Tindouf (Algeria). (PDF, April 2003)

Exploding the Myths about the Moroccan POWs  These "Frequently Asked Questions" provide answers to common questions and myths surrounding the events leading up to the release of the last remaing 404 Moroccan Prisoners of War. (PDF, November 2005)

MACP Report: “Cuba and the Polisario Front”  This report by the Moroccan American Center for Policy examines the more than three decades long relationship between Cuba and the Polisario Front. (PDF, August 2005)

“Frequently Asked Questions” about Sahrawis  “Frequently Asked Questions” about the Sahrawi people and the 30 year Western Sahara Conflict (PDF, October 2005)

ESISC Report: Polisario's Human Rights violations  Report by the ESISC (European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center) of an independent committee of inquiry into allegations of violations of human rights, crimes, abuses and various other irregularities brought against the Polisario Front. (PDF, October 2006)

"Castro’s Closest Friends Need Him to “Get Well S  

In the days following Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's illness, Polisario Front and Algerian officials were quick to wish their long-time friend a "speedy recovery." (Article, Moroccan American Center for Policy, September 2006)



POLISARIO Threats to Return to War Hinder Ongoing UN Negotiations  
The Morocco American Center for Policy (MACP), a US-based NGO that supports strong ties between Morocco and the United States, is deeply concerned with recent hostile statements by the Polisario Front threatening war if they do not achieve full control of the Western Sahara – a clear contradiction to the goal of the ongoing UN-hosted negotiations aimed at a compromise political settlement to the conflict.


Group Rights and International Law: A Case Study on the Sahrawi Refugees in Algeria  
This report is a case study of the violation of refugee rights resulting from the three decades old warehousing of Sahrawi refugees in Algeria. It includes a brief introduction to the background of the factors that generated the refugee situation, an analysis of the current deplorable state of refugees in camps near the city of Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, and an assessment of how their rights are being violated under international refugee law. Drawing on international refugee and human rights law, particularly the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), it outlines both the legal rights of Sahrawi refugees and the legal responsibilities of UNHCR and the host country, Algeria. By assessing the responsibilities and shortcomings of UNHCR and Algeria in derogating from their obligations under international law, this report seeks to call international attention to the problem of refugee warehousing and to offer realistic suggestions for further international action that is urgently needed to improve the lives of the Sahrawi refugees and guarantee their rights under international refugee law.


US Committee for Refugees & Immigrants: "Stonewalling on Refugee Rights: Algeria and the Sahrawi"  

Sahrawi refugees are among the longest warehoused refugee groups in the world. Some have languished in remote refugee camps for 30 years or more. More than 90,000 refugees wait year after year in the desolate Sahara Desert of southwest Algeria.



Letter to President Obama from the US Congress signed by 233 Members  In 2009, A bipartisan majority of the US Congress sent a letter to President Obama urging increased support for Morocco’s compromise autonomy proposal to definitively resolve the three-decades old Western Sahara dispute.

Letter to President Bush from the US Congress signed by 173 Members  In 2007, 173 members of the US Congress sent a letter to President Bush calling the Moroccan autonomy proposal the most “realistic” solution to end the Western Sahara conflict and called on increased US support for the initiative.

Western Sahara - A Timeline  A timeline of key events in the history of the area often referred to as the Western Sahara (1578-2009)

Sec. Clinton Interview on US Policy for the Western Sahara  On November 3, 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an interview in Morocco with Moroccan journalist Fouad Arif in which she reiterated US policy in support of the autonomy/Moroccan sovereignty solution, which originated in the Clinton administration, continued through the Bush administration and remains the policy under the Obama administration.

UN Security Council Resolution 1813  

On April 30, 2008, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1813 in which it reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to the Western Sahara conflict (Morocco and the Polisario Front) to “achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.” The UNSC also welcomed the “serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution.”



Assessment of the UNSG Personal Envoy for the Western Sahara  In 2008, following the 4th round of negotiations, Dutch diplomat and then-UN Secretary General Personal Envoy for the Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, concluded in his report to the UN Security Council that “an independent Western Sahara is not an attainable goal.”

Letter to President Bush from Foreign Policy Experts in Support of Moroccan Autonomy Proposal  On June 6, 2007, a group of foreign policy experts, including former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Gen. (ret.) Wesley Clark, urged President George W. Bush to support Morocco’s compromise autonomy proposal which would lead to “a realistic and lasting peace in North Africa.”

Morocco’s Compromise Autonomy Initiative for the Western Sahara  In 2007, Morocco presented its compromise autonomy proposal for the Western Sahara to the United Nations.  The proposal would grant broad autonomy for the Western Sahara while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty.  The proposal was the impetus and forms the basis for the negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

US Senate Letter signed by 54 Senators  

On March 16, 2010, a majority in the US Senate joined a majority in the US House in supporting US policy for resolving the Western Sahara conflict. The l

etter from 54 Senators shows strong bipartisan backing in US Congress for a negotiated settlement of the conflict based on broad autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty; to remove ‘major obstacle to stability,’ fight terrorist threat in North Africa.

Official website for the American Council for Moroccan POWs
http://www.acmpow.org/

“Facts about Algeria”  by Survivors' Rights International, Inc. (SRI).  Survivors' Rights International, Inc. (SRI) is an organization whose aim is to raise public awareness about contemporary acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes taking place around the globe.
http://www.survivorsrightsinternational.org/algeria/algeria_facts.mv

Official website of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS)
http://www.corcas.com

After an investigation by the Inspectors General of the World Food Programme and the UN Refugee Agency compiled reports which document the Polisario/Algeria’s corruption & mismanagement of humanitarian aid in the Western Sahara.
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/un_monitor/in_our_opinion/UN-Mismanagement-Plagues-Aid-Program-Sahara.htm

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