Western Sahara

This research paper analyzes the protracted conflict over Western Sahara, examining the various peace plans proposed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations (UN), and the parties involved. It identifies the fundamental disagreement over sovereignty and the 'winner-takes-all' nature of referendums as primary obstacles to a resolution.

• The conflict in Western Sahara began in the early 1970s following Spain's planned withdrawal from the territory it had occupied since 1934. In February 1976, Morocco and Mauritania occupied parts of the territory, with Morocco claiming the entire area. The Polisario Front, formed in 1973 to fight Spanish colonialism, subsequently waged a guerrilla war against these two countries.
• The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) proposed the first peace plan in June 1983 via Resolution AHG 104. It urged Morocco and the Polisario Front to engage in direct negotiations to achieve a cease-fire and a 'peaceful and fair referendum for self-determination'. The plan failed to achieve a cease-fire or a referendum, and Morocco subsequently withdrew from the OAU in February 1984 after the organization admitted the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full member.
• The 1988 UN Settlement Plan proposed an internationally supervised cease-fire and a transitional period leading to a referendum where Sahrawis would choose between independence or integration with Morocco. While a cease-fire took effect on 6 September 1991 and the MINURSO mission was deployed, the referendum was never held due to disputes over voter eligibility criteria, specifically the use of the 1974 Spanish census.
• James Baker III, as UN personal envoy, proposed several frameworks between 1997 and 2004. The Draft Framework Agreement (2001) proposed five years of autonomy followed by a referendum, which Morocco welcomed but the Polisario and Algeria rejected. A subsequent 2003 'Peace Plan for Self-Determination' offered three referendum choices: independence, autonomy within Morocco, or full integration. This plan was accepted by the Polisario in July 2003 but formally rejected by Morocco in April 2004.
• In April 2007, Morocco proposed an 'autonomy-based political solution' where Western Sahara would manage local affairs under Moroccan sovereignty, ruling out independence as a final solution. Simultaneously, the Polisario Front proposed a referendum with three choices (independence, integration, or autonomy) and offered concessions, including guaranteeing the rights of the Moroccan population in the territory and associating Morocco with the exploitation of natural resources.
• The failure of peace initiatives is attributed to several factors: the parties' unwillingness to cooperate, the transfer of military conflict to a diplomatic 'proxy war' over voter identification, and the influence of permanent UN Security Council members (France and the US) who prioritize Moroccan stability. Additionally, the 'winner-takes-all' nature of referendums creates a situation where neither party is willing to cooperate unless they are certain of victory.
• The 'stakes' driving the conflict differ by party: Morocco is motivated by national honor and the financial benefits of natural resources (especially oil); the Polisario Front is driven by national honor and political sovereignty over ancestral land. External allies also have stakes, with Algeria seeking prestige and potential economic gain from an independent Sahrawi state, while France and the US seek to avoid destabilizing Morocco.

APA

Souaré, I. K. (2007). Western Sahara. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Pap155.pdf

Chicago

Souaré, Issaka K. Western Sahara. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Pap155.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Souaré |first1=Issaka K. |title=Western Sahara |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=November 2007 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Pap155.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{souar2007western, author = {Souaré, Issaka K.}, title = {{Western Sahara}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Pap155.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }