The Dispute Over Western Sahara: A Case of Thwarted Self-Determination

🌍The Western Sahara dispute is a case of denied self-determination and an example of a land grab disguised as decolonization.

🗺️Western Sahara, a territory in Northwest Africa, is currently divided between Morocco, which controls the majority, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in exile.

🇪🇺Despite being recognized by over 40 countries and being a full member of the African Union, SADR has limited control over a third of the territory, while Morocco occupies the rest.

⚖️The International Court of Justice acknowledged the existence of legal ties between the indigenous people of Western Sahara and Morocco and Mauritania, but it did not establish territorial sovereignty.

🚫The people of Western Sahara have been denied their right to freely and fairly determine their future, including the option of independence, due to continued occupation.

What is the Western Sahara dispute about?

—The Western Sahara dispute is about the denial of self-determination to the Sahrawi people, who have been occupied by Morocco and Mauritania since Spain's colonial rule ended.

Who currently controls Western Sahara?

—Morocco controls the majority of Western Sahara, while the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in exile has limited control over a third of the territory.

Is Western Sahara recognized as an independent state?

—Western Sahara, under the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), is recognized by over 40 countries and is a full member of the African Union.

What did the International Court of Justice say about Western Sahara?

—The International Court of Justice acknowledged legal ties between the indigenous people of Western Sahara and Morocco and Mauritania, but it did not establish territorial sovereignty.

Why is Western Sahara considered Africa's last colony?

—Western Sahara is considered Africa's last colony because the Sahrawi people have been denied their right to freely determine their future due to continued occupation.

00:06The Western Sahara dispute is often misunderstood as a secession case, but it is really a case of thwarted self-determination.

01:30Western Sahara covers around 250,000 square kilometers, making it slightly larger than the United Kingdom.

01:45The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) has limited control over a third of the territory, while Morocco occupies the rest.

07:21The International Court of Justice acknowledged legal ties between the indigenous people of Western Sahara and Morocco and Mauritania, but it did not establish territorial sovereignty.

10:49The people of Western Sahara have been denied their right to freely determine their future, including the option of independence.