Subject The African Continent

Section The Travel countries Task 2

Title Western Sahara
Wording The task is to study Western Sahara and understand its history and present
situation, its special conditions for a functioning society, the conflict
between Morocco and the Polisario and its possible solutions
Time 10 hours
Introduction

Western Sahara is still not an independent country, and the future of the area is yet to
be solved. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975 when Spain gave it up
after pressure from the UN. Morocco claimed its historical supremacy over the area
and invaded the area together with Mauretania. From colonial times Western Sahara
had its liberation Movement. Polisario, which then fought against the invasion from
Morocco and Mauretania. Mauretania withdrew in 1979, Morocco stayed, and
Polisario had to flee across the border to Algeria as a result of this fight. Since 1991
there has been a UN supported cease fire.

Today most of the area is controlled by Morocco. The Polisario has its basis in
Algeria where big parts of the population from the Sahrawi tribe live as refugees in
camps in the desert, totally dependent on support of food, medicine etc. from the
UN. The Polisario has organized itself with a governmental system to be ready to
eventually take over Western Sahara. The organization is also recognized by some
80 countries, among them some from the Arabian league, but it seems that Morocco
wins more and more international support for a final take over. At least they are
capable to do much more lobbyism for their arguments than the Polisario.

Western Sahara is one of the most scarcely populated areas in Africa, historically
inhabited by different Berber and Arab tribes living as Bedouins. Maybe a part of
this tribal life was supported by the trans-Saharan trade, because the caravan route
from Marrakesh in Morocco to Timbuktu in Mali passed the territory of Western
Sahara.

There are fishing resources in the Atlantic ocean outside Western Sahara, and almost
2/3 of the population is employed here today. At the moment the fishing rights are
partly outsourced, because they are decided to be part of the agreement between EU
and Morocco concerning fishery in the coastal waters. There are only few known
mineral resources, and it is uncertain if there is oil in the underground. The inland-
environment is too difficult for agriculture and makes way for only a small amount
of people to live here. There is so little rainfall that Morocco has to run a
desalination-project at the coast to provide fresh water. In fact Morocco is forced to
subsidize the population to a big extent in the areas it is controlling.

The political outcome whether the area will end up being a part of Morocco or an
independent state governed by Polisario is still an open question, though the first
option seems the most likely today. Whether or not, it is and will be a difficult task
to provide a living for the population in Western Sahara. There is still a cease fire,
but many of the young people in the refugee camps are born in the camps and have a
hard task to see any perspective. Western Sahara is a forgotten corner of the world.

Directive

Read the questions, find the necessary relevant sources and follow the directives.
Use more than one source to make your statements more valid, if possible.
Remember, that unless data is physical measureable, they are always subject to
discussion.
So you have to decide what is the relevant data, the correct data, the truth?

Make some short, written considerations about the following questions:

1. What are the general and specific conditions for making a functioning society
in Western Sahara

2. What are the reasons behind the politics that made both Morocco and
Mauretania to invade Western Sahara and make claims on the territory?

3. What could be the possible steps to be taken to make a political solution on

the claims for the territory? On local and international level.

4. What implications does it have for people to live so long time in an isolated
refugee camp in the desert like the Western Saharan refugees does in Algeria?

5. Make a summary of the characteristics of the country as you see it.

6. Prepare and hold a good presentation for your team about Western Sahara.
Use different methods and products.

Files Suggestion for files:

Books:
Western Sahara by Stephen Zunes and Jacob Mundy, 2010

Websites:
 The World Factbook, an online factbook published by CIA,
updated weekly:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wi.html
 
The Saharawi Voice: The Saharawi Voice Project is a nonprofit participatory
media initiative with the goal to use digital media as a tool for expression,
empowerment, and advocacy for children and youth living in Saharawi
refugee camps.
http://www.saharawivoice.com
 

1. What are the general and specific conditions for making a functioning
society in Western Sahara
Western Sahara first of all need to get acceptance from other, especially from Morocco.
Until the situation is unsettled the likelihood for a functioning society is almost zero. The
Sahrawians’ representing authority couldn’t put enough effort in creation of basic needs for
the country while fighting against its independency.
A second step would be to create peace within the tribes in Western Sahara and with the
Moroccan people, who live in the territory.
In the same time the country need a responsible government elected by Sahrawians. The
current leader of the liberator actions, Polisario Front has changed since the ‘70s when its
foundation was. Nowadays it is mainly corrupted by Algeria. Who is supporter of the local
drug driving.
Another future task, that even if the country gets its independency it will still need
economical support from foreign countries for being able to stand on its feet again. The
education system, the social care, health care, all these areas require big investments in
building appropriate buildings, equipment, etc.
Afterwards, Western Sahara could be able to start to use its own natural resources, provide
work places (fishing, phosphate mining, etc.) and build up their economy to a sustainable
level. Providing a solid and stable base for the future of the country.

2. What are the reasons behind the politics that made both Morocco and
Mauretania to invade Western Sahara and make claims on the territory?
 Since Spain decolonized Western Sahara (1976), the country still have not gotten its
independency. In the same year, Morocco and Mauritania occupied Western Sahara. They
shared the Sahrawi people’s land between each other until Mauritania’s withdrawal (1979).
Till today Western Sahara is still under occupation by Kingdom of Morocco. Why is it that
this part of Africa worth to fight and forcing thousands of peoples leave their homeland?!
Kingdom of Morocco supported by France has many reasons for claiming territories of
Western Sahara.
One of them is to preserve and strengthen the monarchial establishment itself. Another
reason is to sustain Morocco’s nationalist prestige. There is an aspiration for creating the
“Greater Morocco”, having irredentist claims on neighboring territories. This way of
claiming for territory is not just against a country, but against the national identity of its
people, which existence being denied by the actions of Morocco.
Maintaining individual and collective interests is another element of Morocco’s politics.
The military establishment is a good instance for it, which major part stationing in Western
Sahara.
Last but not least one of the most relevant reason is economical. That also made Mauritania
interested in the country (However they had to withdraw in 1979). The Moroccan economy
is becoming more and more dependent on the illegal plundering of the natural resources in
the occupied territories of Western Sahara, which also provides employment for the vast
majority of Moroccan settlers in the Territory. Western Sahara has rich natural resources,
which has been exploited for many years by the invader countries. Aside from its rich
fishing water, which has a good market and a great output for Morocco’s economy, there
are many phosphate-mining centers. The country is also home to large amounts of titanium,
vanadium, and iron. Moreover, there is hope of finding oil below occupied areas of Western
Sahara. Oil companies signed agreements with Morocco about drilling in Western Sahara.
On this year’s 21st of August the San Leon Energy started to drill for oil in the powerless
country. The permission was given by Morocco (they don’t even list Western Sahara among
the countries they have projects in)… These actions are in conflict with the international
law. UN has reported already in 2002, that the Moroccan activities are defined as illegal.
For instance, giving licenses for foreign firms to exploiting oil in Westerns Sahara should
have economic profits for the inhabitants of that region according to the international law,
not for the occupied country.
However, among the many companies that take advantages of Western Sahara’s unfortunate
situation there are also examples of the opposite. A Norwegian company, KLP is backing
up its businesses with companies that has involvement of exploiting Western Sahara’s
territories.

3. What could be the possible steps to be taken to make a political solution on

the claims for the territory? On local and international level.
There were already and there are attempts toward finding solution and make peace between
the countries. Although, most of them failed mainly because of Morocco’s pressure. In
1991, for example there was a peace keeping mission (MINURSO) organized by UN, which
led to the todays situation: cease-fire. Another instance is the Baker Plan I and II. The plan
suggested Western Sahara’s autonomy under the Moroccon control with elected
government. However the plans never came into force. Until today there is no replacement
plan.
In my opinion, on local level there is not so much what people can do. None of the
countries are trying to find compromise for the situation (which is kind of understandable
from Western Sahara’s side).
The case of Western Sahara should have been given more attention on the international
scene putting more pressure on Morocco. Either from Europa’s side (they could refuse to be
 Morocco’s trading partner, because of colonising Western Sahara) or from the African
Union’s side (although, Morocco stepped out from it when they accepted Western Sahara as
an independent country).

4. What implications does it have for people to live so long time in an isolated
refugee camp in the desert like the Western Saharan refugees does in
Algeria?
Since Western Sahara is occupied by The Kingdom of Morocco thousand of people had to
leave their homeland, searching for a place where they can live, even among very poor
conditions. Today in Algeria there are four refugee camps, built by refugees from Western
Sahara. About the numbers of refugees living in Algeria there are different pieces of
information from different sources:
The Polisario Front supported by Algeria: 165 000
Morocco: 45 000
UNHCR: 90 000
(These numbers can say a lot already to us about the different positions, interests…)
The main difference between being a refugee in Denmark for example or in Tindouf
(Algeria), that there are no prepared places, homes, etc. for refugees. The today’s refugee
camps in Algeria was built by Sahrawi women from the ground. There are the ones who
created a society for themselves and who are organizing and running it today. “The Sahrawi
woman is the mother the teacher and the doctor.”
They have schools, ‘hospital’, houses, teachers, doctors, etc. We could say everything, but
in a very primitive level. Some children manage to go to foreign countries (mainly Spain) to
study, but these opportunities are very rare. The major problem is the big lack of food,
water and basic things. They are all very much depending on the aids from other countries,
which creates fear. No one can know wheter there is supply also the next day or not…They
did not go for benefits, they do not want to stay there, ripped apart from their family
member by the wall built by Moroccans. The only thing they want to get back their
nomadic, humble life on their own land.

5. Make a summary of the characteristics of the country as you see it.

For me it was somehow shocking to hear, to read about that we are still facing with
problems today like Western Sahara’s issue. Colonisation was very popular in the last
centuries, but not in the XXI century. People would think that nowadays could not happen
something so openly to the public. Companies, governments, higher authorities are
corrupted and many institutions are following capitalistic policies, but usually it is not open
it is more hidden, covered with lies so on. As I see Western Sahara could start to close up to
other developing countries, it has many potential in natural resources and its people’s main
dream is to get back their country and start over, start to build up something. However,
probably they would still need some support, because there are not so many possibilities to
provide food supplies and the pastoring lifestyle cannot cover everybody’s needs.
Furthermore, of course this improvement recommends their independency, which is the
biggest obstacle in front of the country. Looking at the current situation and knowing what
happened since 1975, the situation seems quite hopeless. We are lack of plans for solutions
and Morocco is quite stubborn regarding release of Western Sahara.

References:
 http://www.saharawivoice.com/about
 http://www.wsrw.org/a114x515
 http://www.eldis.org/go/home&id=22917&type=Document#.VgRrqPntmkp
 http://www.aucegypt.edu/GAPP/CairoReview/Pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=576
 http://nai.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:240540/FULLTEXT02.pdf
 Endgame in the Western Sahara: What Future for Africa's Last Colony? By Toby
Shelley
 http://ibmag.nl/?p=507
 http://fride.org/download/PB_163_Western_Sahara.pdf
 https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/resolving-regional-conflicts-the-western-sahara-
and-the-quest-for-durable-solution
 http://www.quora.com/What-are-some-solutions-to-the-conflict-of-Western-Sahara
 http://www.mei.edu/content/solving-western-sahara-%E2%80%94-what-now-
remains
 http://www.arso.org/01-2-54.htm
 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14115273
 http://www.gees.org/articulos/mapping_of_the_conflict_in_western_sahara_6705
 http://www.aglobalvillage.org/journal/issue7/globalhealth/sahara/
 http://www.afrol.com/articles/38162
 http://www.saharawivoice.com/archives/1544
 http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/western_sahara/western_sahara_economy.html
 https://www.msb.se/RibData/Filer/pdf/26084.pdf
 http://nai.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:240540/FULLTEXT02.pdf
 http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e485e16.html
 http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1224671304_algeria-101008.pdf