Western Sahara and the Struggle for Independence

Published 10 Jul 2007, 9:41 am - 1 Comment -
Filed under Feature Stories

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Polisario GUEST: Jacob Mundy, Coauthor, with Stephen Zunes, of “Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution,” member of Western Sahara Resource Watch, and former Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco

After seven years of refusing to meet face to face, Moroccan officials and members of the Western Sahara rebel movement, Polisario Front, met with UN officials last month. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a report on the meeting in late June but then reissued it, eliminating controversial recommendations on the future of the disputed region. The conflict between Morocco and Western Sahara began in 1974 when Spain promised the Saharawis a referendum to vote on independence versus remaining a part of Morocco. However, Morocco invaded the area, claiming historical rights and annexing the former Spanish colony. Now, Morocco is sticking to the limited autonomy plan it proposed in April that would maintain Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara. The Polisario Front, an independence movement backed by Algeria, maintained its demand for a referendum with a choice of autonomy or independence. Western Sahara is a region rich in the mineral Phosphate, which is used in chemical fertilizers. Morocco is the world’s largest phosphate exporter and Western Sahara accounts for almost 10% of its exports.

Articles by Jacob Mundy on Western Sahara:

Western Sahara Between Autonomy and Intifada
www.merip.org/mero/mero031607.html

Mixing Occuption and Oil in Western Sahara
www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12506

Western Sahara: Against Autonomy
www.counterpunch.org/mundy04272007.html

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1 Comment to ‘Western Sahara and the Struggle for Independence’:

yadahlou on 21 Oct 2007 at 8:52 am: 1

Dear Jacob,
Carry on your a good work on Western Sahara. The self-determination is a right of all peoples.

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