Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara: Another occupied land, another struggle silenced
The Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, south of Morocco and currently occupied by Morocco. It has a population of approximately 270,000 people across approximately 250,000 square km. The major ethnic group are the Sahrawis, an Arabic speaking people. They are Sunni Muslims.
In 1975, the autocratic rule of King Hasan of Morocco annexed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara as part of Morocco without the consent of the Sahrawi people giving him the entitlement to do so. Ever since the Sahrawis have been struggling for their right of self determination. This has been a deeply disputed region, similar to Kashmir and Palestine.
First week of December 2020, the despotic King Muhammad VI of Morocco recognized and normalized relations with Israel. Days later, Donald Trump recognized Western Sahara as part of Morocco, as a favor and payback for the Moroccan King's recognition of Israel. In January 2020 the Moroccan Parliament voted unanimously to add Western Sahara waters to the Moroccan maritime borders, parroting the wishes of their King. No European country has yet endorsed Trump's decision. Unfortunately, though not surprisingly, countries allergic to human rights such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan have publicly announced their support for Morocco on the issue of Western Sahara. United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and India (which is a notorious occupier itself) do not recognize the authority of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Israel's silence speaks loud as ever that it couldn't give a damn about the right of self determination of the Sahrawis. Israel is happily aware that King Mohammad used the illegal Zionist state as immunity for his own illegal occupation of Western Sahara.
Algeria is one of the few Arab Muslim country that supports the struggle for independence of the Sahrawis.
Since Biden came to power, many former retired US politicians have demanded that he must reverse Trump's decision. Writes Al-Saharawi "Rabat not only controls the vast bulk of the Western Sahara’s territory militarily, but, through successive waves of settlement from Morocco proper, is trying to overwhelm the ethnic Sahrawi population. Secretary General António Guterres’s statement following Trump’s announcement, for example, called for preserving the 1991 cease-fire, but spoke only about a 'resumption of the peace process. If Morocco won’t accept a referendum, it doesn’t deserve a cease-fire or a false 'peace process.' "
According to former United States ambassador in Algeria and Syria, Christopher Ross, Trump's proclamation on Western Sahara is a "foolish and ill-considered decision."
Biden got down to working on it but sooner rather than later, his trail went silent. I guess one can presume he supports Trump's decision. Until Biden reverses his course, US must be seen as among countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan that has recognized Morocco's illegal territorial claim in Western Sahara.
Learn more on this very important yet downplayed history.
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