Western Sahara: Polisario Front rejects the Moroccan plan

The Algeria-backed Polisario Front has expressed its rejection of the draft resolution on the Western Sahara, reported the Moroccan government friendly Spanish outlet Atalayar on October 27th. In a new statement, the group reaffirms that it will not take part in any negotiations that legitimizes what it perceives as an illegal military occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco. This follows from a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of a decisive vote of the UN Security Council on October 31st, on the renewal of the MINURSO peacekeeping mission. The Polisario Front calls for any decision to be validated by a referendum.

The Moroccan-drafted Autonomy Plan, backed by the US and many European allies such as France and Belgium, was first presented at the UN in 2007; it would give the territory autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Notably, Morocco has largely invested in the Southern region over the last decade, building modern infrastructure, highways and a major deep-sea port in Dakhla. The draft also included economic incentives for the region, under Moroccan control.

The Polisario Front, however, demands the creation of an independent state for the Sahrawi people and rejects Morocco’s sovereignty, arguing for the right of Sahrawi people to self-determination. Algeria is a key supporter of the group, having provided significant financial, military and diplomatic support for decades. This has fueled the long-standing crisis between Morocco and Algeria, who have had no diplomatic relations since 2021.

While the Algerian government has remained silent on the impending vote, Algerian media outlets were very critical of the plan, accusing France and the UAE of undue pressure on the Security Council. On the ground, the situation seemed tense, with reports of worsening living conditions in Tindouf, Algeria, where a camp has been established to host Sahrawi refugees.

The Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, when a ‘Green March’ organized by then-King Hassan II gathered over 350,00 Moroccans, who peacefully asserted their right over the contested territory. While Spain relinquished the territory, the Polisario Front, originally formed in 1973, immediately started guerilla war against Morocco. A ceasefire was negotiated in 1991 with the promise of a referendum, which never took place, thus stalling the peace process ever since.

Atalayar