Fighting for Land, Oil, and People of Western Sahara
Africa's Western Sahara fight for freedom has been a 40 year battle with no resolution in sight. The disputed territory is on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria.
Fighting for Land, Oil, and People of Western Sahara
War broke out in the same year due to the Frente Polisario people's party contesting Morocco's self-proclaimed rule over the territory.
Since 1979, the Frente Polisario has been recognized by the United Nations as the representative of the people of Western Sahara. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic led by President Mohamed Abdelaziz is in exile in Algeria. About 95,000 Sahrawi refugees continue to be sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria, which has housed Sahrawi refugees since the 1980s.
MINURSO provided for the sole and exclusive responsibility for monitoring ceasefires, verifying the reduction of Moroccan troops in the territory, overseeing exchanges of prisoners of war, identify and register qualified voters.
In August 1994, MINURSO began the process of identifying potential voters in which the people of Western Sahara would choose between independence and integration with Morocco. In May 1996, the Secretary-General suspended the identification process but the military component remained to monitor and verify ceasefires.
Over 20 years later, the United Nations continues talks with the parties to seek a resolution, Western Sahara remains a hotly disputed territory in West Africa for land, oil, and people to this day.
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Africa’s Western Sahara Disputed Territory |
Western Sahara’s former names are Rio de Oro, Saguia el Hamra, and Spanish Sahara.