A proposed partition plan for the Western Sahara region has faced strong opposition from the Polisario Front and Algeria, further escalating tensions in the decades-long conflict.
The plan, submitted to the United Nations, was supported by Morocco. The Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement, and Algeria, a longtime supporter of the Sahrawi cause, have both rejected the partition proposal.
The Polisario Front argues that the plan would undermine the self-determination rights of the Sahrawi people and perpetuate the ongoing conflict. Algeria has also expressed its opposition to the plan, stating that it is not a viable solution to the dispute.
Morocco, on the other hand, has welcomed the partition plan, asserting that it offers a peaceful and just resolution to the Western Sahara conflict. The Moroccan government has long advocated for a negotiated settlement that would grant autonomy to the Western Sahara region while maintaining Moroccan sovereignty.
The rejection of the partition plan by the Polisario Front and Algeria is likely to further complicate efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The United Nations has been mediating between the parties involved, but progress has been slow.
The Western Sahara conflict has been ongoing since the 1970s, following Morocco’s annexation of the territory after Spain withdrew. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands of Sahrawis.
The Polisario Front has established a Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in the Western Sahara region, which is recognized by several African countries and the United Nations. However, Morocco maintains control over most of the territory.
The proposed partition plan would have divided the Western Sahara region into two parts: a Moroccan-controlled area and a Sahrawi-controlled area. The Polisario Front and Algeria have rejected this proposal, arguing that it would perpetuate the existing power imbalance and deny the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination.
The rejection of the partition plan is a significant setback for efforts to resolve the Western Sahara conflict. It remains to be seen whether the parties involved can find a way to overcome their differences and reach a peaceful settlement.
