The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, the Art of Resistance and How to Constitute a Country While Under Occupation
The Frente POLISARIO, a liberation movement that aimed to achieve freedom of the then Spanish Sahara, was funded in 1973. In 1976, one year after the invasion of Morocco and Mauritania of Western Sahara, POLISARIO proclaimed, in the name of the Saharawi People, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republ...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute for African Studies
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Ученые записки Института Африки Российской академии наук |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://africajournal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Zapiski-2-2023-9-117-131-Isabel-Lourenco-Jorge-Teixeira.pdf |
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| Summary: | The Frente POLISARIO, a liberation movement that aimed to achieve freedom of the
then Spanish Sahara, was funded in 1973. In 1976, one year after the invasion of Morocco and
Mauritania of Western Sahara, POLISARIO proclaimed, in the name of the Saharawi People, the
Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Western Sahara has been on the United Nations’ list of
Non-Self-Governing Territories under Chapter XI of the UN Charter, since 1963. Forty-seven years
later, the fight for the future of Western Sahara still ensues. Despite all judicial decisions against its
claim, Morocco still occupies Western Sahara and proclaims it is part of its national territory. On the
other side, Frente POLISARIO, adhering to International Law and their legitimate rights to Self-
Determination, still fights. Morocco resorts to a mix of tactics: war, propaganda, fake news,
defamation, imprisonment of dissidents, human rights violations, and Geopolitical Alliances.
In 1991, under the auspices of the UN and AU, an agreement on a Referendum to determine the
Liberation of Western Sahara or the Annexation into the Kingdom of Morocco was achieved, but was
never materialized. A UN Mission, Misión de las Naciones Unidas para la Organización de un
Referéndum en el Sáhara Occidental (MINURSO), was established. Morocco, however, did not
respect the terms of the agreement, boycotting the referendum. Between 1991 and 2020, a cease-fire
was in place. In November 2020, a Moroccan military assault against a peaceful protest of Saharawi
civilians against a new breach of Military Agreement No. 1 triggered Frente POLISARIO to declare
the cease-fire null and void and to resume military action.
In this paper, we will try to clarify what the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic is and what
Frente POLISARIO is. To achieve our goals, we have examined the SADR Constitution and how the
political actors implement the ideas and ideals of the Constitution reflected on Frente POLISARIO.
Our analysis has found a country ready and able to implement the structure of a functioning Modern
Democratic State with the necessary prepared human resources. |
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| ISSN: | 2412-5717 3034-3496 |