1. Western Sahara Conflict

2. What is currently happening? (BBC 2017)
The conflict is a land dispute between Morocco and the native Sahrawi
Spain controlled the area until global agreements made them withdraw in 1975
In the past year Morocco have provoked the Sahrawi by moving into the neutral territory of Guerguerat
Morocco joined the African Union on January 31st

3. Why is this happening? Morocco annexed the land along with Mauritania
The Sahrawi led Polisario Front disputed the land claims and proposed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)
The dispute is all political after a 1991 ceasefire ending a 16 year long guerrilla war (Euronews 2017)
A referendum on the fate of the region proposed in 1991 still hasn’t been held
The African Union and European Union have recognised SADR
The resource rich part of the Western Sahara is controlled by Morocco (The Economist 2017)
90000 refugees have been displaced from the Sahrawi (Gaffey 2016)

4. Consequences for those involved
The Sahrawi are displaced from their land
The indigenous cultures are diminished
Morocco receives condemnation and trade sanctions
Algeria receive an influx of refugees that drain resources
Mauritania had to pull out of the region after the war (Gaffey 2016)
As tensions increase the threat of war is the greatest consequence

5. What are the different perspectives?
Morocco believe that the land is theirs and they deserve autonomy
The Sahrawi believe that the land is theirs due to their heritage (El-Khalfi 2015)
Algeria support the Sahrawi due to the refugee influx
Mauritania are in support of the Sahrawi after giving up their stake in the land (Gaffey 2016)
The African Union recognise SADR
The European Union recognise SADR

6. How could this issue be resolved?
Option 1: Continuation of War
With recent advancement from the Moroccans, the Sahrawi have been provoked (El-Khalfi 2015)
Morocco has become increasingly distant from the UN and Ban Ki-Moon
On the other hand they support Antonio Gutteres (Euronews 2017)
The un had to repeatedly intervene in the past year
In gueguerat both sides have built new fortifications and armed elements
Since morocco joined the African union, their rules require them to change (The economist 2017)

7. How could this issue be resolved?
Option 2: Hold the referendum!
The promised referendum has been on hold for 26 years
The Polisario Front’s main aim is to get a referendum
The U.N’s main aim is to facilitate a referendum (Gaffey 2016)
It is the simplest of options, requiring the least work
It is a democratic process that lets the people of Morocco decide

8. How could this issue be resolved?
Option 3: Diplomatic pressure
With the recent joining of the AU Morocco must make changes
Members of the AU cannot infringe on others territories and SADR is a recognised nation
If Morocco is to remain in the AU they must make an agreement or change in accordance with laws
Moroccan land claims were rejected in 1975 by the ICJ and UN nations follow their rulings
Sanctions have already been occurring both ways with the EU stopping Western Sahara trade and Morocco halting other aspects
If all nations do sanction trade then Morocco will inevitably have to retreat
Eventually this will lead to change and the issue being addressed (The Economist 2017)

9. References:
BBC 2017, Western Sahara profile, accessed 5 June 2017, <
El-Khalfi, M 2015, Conflict in Morocco Sahara, Al Jazeera, accessed 5 June 2017, <
Euronews 2017, The Western Sahara Conflict, accessed 5 June 2017, <
Gaffey, C 2016, Western Sahara: What is the 40-year dispute all about, Newsweek, accessed 5 June 2017, <
The Economist 2017, The never-ending dispute, accessed 5 June 2017, <
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