Western Sahara conflict

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The Western Sahara conflict is a long-running dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front and its self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The fight is over who should govern Western Sahara and whether the territory should be independent or join Morocco.

What started and who is involved
- In the 1970s, Spain left Western Sahara. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, fought against Moroccan and Mauritanian control.
- In 1976, the SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front, seeking independence for Western Sahara.
- Mauritania withdrew in 1979; the conflict then continued mainly between the Polisario Front and Morocco.
- Today, most of Western Sahara is controlled by Morocco and is called the Southern Provinces. The Polisario Front/SADR controls a smaller area and runs refugee camps in Algeria.

Key events in brief
- 1970s–1990s: An armed war raged between the Polisario Front and Morocco (and briefly Mauritania). A UN-backed ceasefire was reached in 1991.
- 1990s–2000s: Peace talks tried to set up a referendum on self-determination, but the referendum never happened.
- 1999–2004 and 2005: Two waves of Sahrawi protests (intifadas) demanding independence.
- 2010–2011: The Gdeim Izik protest camp and later Arab Spring-inspired protests brought clashes and casualties.
- 2020: The ceasefire effectively ended after Moroccan forces moved into a disputed area near Guerguerat; the Polisario Front said the ceasefire was broken.
- 2020: The United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel (under the Trump administration). This shifted international positions on the dispute.
- 2021–present: The UN has continued to seek a path to negotiations, with limited progress and no final settlement.

What the core issues are
- The central question is self-determination: should Western Sahara become independent (as SADR) or be integrated with Morocco?
- The UN and many countries advocate a referendum, but agreeing on who can vote and how it would be run has stalled talks for decades.
- Morocco has offered a plan for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty; the Polisario Front wants full independence.
- The region includes a long security barrier (the Moroccan Berm) and a large Sahrawi refugee presence in camps in Algeria.

Human impact and current status
- The conflict has caused thousands of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of Sahrawis into refugee camps in Algeria.
- The area is split: Morocco administers most of the territory; SADR controls a portion and the refugee camps.
- Human rights concerns and restrictions on media and political activity have been reported by international organizations.
- UN-led efforts to reach a lasting solution continue, but as of now there is no final settlement.

In short, Western Sahara remains a disputed territory with Morocco seeking integration under autonomy, while the Polisario Front and SADR push for full independence, supported by Algeria. A lasting peace hinges on a mutually acceptable political solution and a credible plan for self-determination.