Polisario Front of Western Sahara & War with Morocco

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
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The War in the Western Sahara has started anew after days of rising tension from both sides.


The 29 year old cease fire has been broken as the Algerian backed Polisario Front, alleging provocations by the Moroccan military, decided to declare war on Morocco because of it.

For a Moroccan POV...

 
D

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IIRC Algeria supports or supported the Polisario. Also Spain was involved, I think the UN said they being the former colonial power had obligations to protect the peace or something.

Still though the Western Sahara region is oil rich and I’m curious to see if anything happens.
 

gral

Well-known member
IIRC Algeria supports or supported the Polisario. Also Spain was involved, I think the UN said they being the former colonial power had obligations to protect the peace or something.

Still though the Western Sahara region is oil rich and I’m curious to see if anything happens.
Not much, probably. Morocco was trying to colonize Western Sahara and have very little to show in exchange for the loads of money it's spending on this. The only reason there are economically viable coastal settlements(close to the border with Morocco) is because Morocco has been heavily subsidizing them, and even then, people don't want to go there. The interior? Only sand, nomads(who don't spend enough time there for the UN to consider Western Sahara a country) and the Polisario.
 
D

Deleted member 88

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IIRC There was a brief incident in 2002 where Morocco occupied Spanish islands, Perejil Island crisis - Wikipedia.

So the region has some potential for blow up-Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Western Sahara, and other parties-such as French and American prospectors in the latter.

But I'm not sure what the Polisario want to achieve, as I doubt Western Sahara will ever be independent barring some major diplomatic shift, that would give them international recognition.
 

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
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Qn old boss of mine was sent to Morocco as part of the UN. He worked with russians
 

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
Founder
Sotnik

Some analysis on the whole issue from its origins to how it could expand and who the players are etc.

Curiously it does seem that Polisario appears to be the instigator and Morocco not wanting a conflict. Some of the recent tensiom has been caused by the Polisario Front blocking land trade routes from Morooco to Mauretania in the lead up to this declaration of war. Polisario maybe acting out of dissatisfaction with how frozen things have been since the cease fire with both sides fully entrenched in their stances.

Polisario wants full independence. Morocco will only accept their autonomy under Moroccan rule... But the current status quo suits them fine as well as we've seen.

As for players, the Gulf Monarchies support Morocco and the Western European powers however have been more cautious, not wanting to offend Algeria... Or local interest groups in their own countries.

For its part Algeria publicly issued a statement of urging restraint for both sides. The conflict hasn't flared up into a full war yet but could become a low intensity conflict like it was in the 70's and 80's. Plus Algerias support of Polisario can never be taken as assured in perpetuity.
 

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
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Sotnik

Secretary of State Pompeo stated today that the United States is in the process of setting up a US Consulate in the Western Sahara, further reinforcing earlier statements from the Administration of their support for Morocco in the ongoing disputes.
 

Husky_Khan

The Dog Whistler... I mean Whisperer.
Founder
Sotnik
Algerian-Moroccan Relations getting tense...



Apparently there was a drone strike by Moroccan forces that may have struck and killed Algerian civilians for the second time since November.
 

PsihoKekec

Swashbuckling Accountant
And in the past it was manned strikes with similar results. It will get buried after few weeks, unless Algeria has an internal crisis, but they expect considerable financial gain from higher fuel and gas prices, so I reckon escalation is not in the workings right now.
 

WolfBear

Well-known member
Question: Algeria supports the Polisario Front due to Algeria's own history being a brutal victim of colonialism, correct? Whereas historical French colonialism in Morocco was more gentle relative to Algeria.
 

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