Western Sahara

The document examines the history of the Western Sahara conflict, focusing on the failure of multiple peace plans proposed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations (UN). It details the divergent positions of Morocco, which seeks sovereignty or autonomy under its rule, and the Polisario Front, which demands a referendum on self-determination. The author argues that the 'winner-takes-all' nature of referendums and the strategic interests of external allies like Algeria, France, and the United States have contributed to a persistent diplomatic stalemate.

• The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) proposed the first peace plan in June 1983 via Resolution AHG 104, which called for direct negotiations and a ceasefire to enable a referendum for self-determination.
• The 1988 UN Settlement Plan, which was based on the 1983 OAU proposal, established the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to monitor a ceasefire and organize a referendum offering a choice between independence or integration with Morocco.
• The UN Settlement Plan failed to implement its transitional period primarily due to disagreements over voter eligibility criteria, specifically whether to use the 1974 Spanish census as the sole basis for identification.
• James Baker's 'Peace Plan for Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara' (2003) attempted to balance the Framework Agreement favored by Morocco and the Settlement Plan favored by the Polisario Front, offering three referendum options: independence, autonomy within Morocco, or full integration with Morocco.
• In April 2007, Morocco proposed an 'autonomy-based political solution' that would allow Western Saharans to manage local affairs under Moroccan sovereignty, explicitly ruling out independence as a possibility.
• The Polisario Front's April 2007 proposal reiterated its demand for a referendum with three choices (independence, integration, or autonomy) and offered concessions, such as guaranteeing the rights of the Moroccan population in the territory and sharing natural resource exploitation.
• The author identifies several factors contributing to the peace process failure, including the transfer of military conflict to the diplomatic arena, distrust of the UN and OAU, and the role of US and French support for Moroccan stability.
• The 'winner-takes-all' approach of referendums is cited as a major obstacle, as a loss would be a 'national disaster' for Morocco, while a win might not be accepted by Algeria.
• The 'stakes' for Morocco include safeguarding national honor and gaining financial benefits from natural resources, particularly oil.
• Algeria's support for the Polisario Front is driven by its commitment to liberation movements and potential economic gains from an independent Sahrawi state with Atlantic coastlines.

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} }