What does Polisario stand for?
Polisario in American English (poulɪˈsɑːriˌou) noun. an independence movement opposing Moroccan control of the Western Sahara, a former Spanish territory that Morocco annexed in stages beginning in 1976.
Who is the Polisario?
The Polisario Front (Polisario), the self-proclaimed “leader” of Sahrawis fighting for independence for the Western Sahara, is in reality a one-party dictatorship that does not represent the Sahrawi people and does not promote their best interests in pursuing a peaceful solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
Where are the Polisario?
The Polisario Front is composed largely of the indigenous nomadic inhabitants of the Western Sahara region, the Sahrawis. The Polisario Front began in May 1973 as an insurgency (based in neighbouring Mauritania) against Spanish control of Western Sahara.
Is Polisario a country?
Although the SADR is not recognized as a state by the UN, the Polisario is considered a direct participant in the conflict and as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, recognized by the United Nations since 1979.
Is Western Sahara Moroccan?
In 2016, the European Union (EU) declared that “Western Sahara is not part of Moroccan territory.” In March 2016, Morocco “expelled more than 70 U.N. civilian staffers with MINURSO” due to strained relations after Ban Ki-moon called Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara an “occupation”.
Who supports the Polisario Front?
Algeria
The Algeria-backed Polisario separatists took up arms in the 1970s and have continued to demand an independence referendum on the basis of a 1991 deal that included a ceasefire.
Who colonized Morocco?
French Morocco (1912-1956) Crisis (March 30, 1912-August 18, 1955): France established a protectorate over Morocco as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Fez on March 30, 1912.
Why is Morocco divided?
Morocco claims ownership of the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, which it has designated its Southern Provinces. In 1975, after Spain agreed to decolonise the territory and cede its control to Morocco and Mauritania, a guerrilla war broke out between those powers and some of the local inhabitants.
Who is Morocco at war with?
Area of dispute in 1963 ‘sand war’ between Morocco and Algeria. Since 1975, the dominant issue between the two countries has been the conflict in Western Sahara.
Who owns West Sahara?
Morocco
Overview. Morocco has claimed authority over Western Sahara since 1975, but the United Nations (UN) does not recognize Moroccan control, calling Western Sahara a “non-self-governing territory.” Morocco controls the most populous area along the Atlantic coastline, more than three-quarters of the territory.
Who recognizes west Sahara?
As of September 2021, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognized by 41 out of a total of 193 United Nations member states. At different times, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has been recognized by 84 UN member states, but, of these, 43 have since “frozen” or “withdrawn” recognition.
Why is Morocco French?
The use of French is a colonial legacy of the French protectorate (1912–1956), and French no longer has any officially recognized status in Morocco. It is considered a prestige language in Morocco, and is often used for business, diplomacy, and government, serving as a lingua franca with non-Moroccans and non-Arabs.
What is the Polisario?
The Polisario is first and foremost a nationalist organization, whose main goal is the independence of Western Sahara. It has stated that ideological disputes should be left for a future democratic Western Sahara to deal with.
What does Frente Polisario mean?
De la organización política y militar que defiende la independencia del antiguo Sáhara español o relativo a ella: frente polisario. Ningún título tiene la (s) palabra (s) ‘polisario’.
What is the history of the Polisario Front?
The Polisario Front began in May 1973 as an insurgency (based in neighbouring Mauritania) against Spanish control of Western Sahara. After Spain withdrew and Morocco and Mauritania partitioned Western Sahara between themselves in 1976, the Polisario Front relocated to Algeria, which henceforth provided the organization with bases and military aid.
Does Algeria support the Polisario Front?
Algeria has shown an unconditional support for the Polisario Front since 1975, delivering arms, training, financial aid, and food, without interruption for more than 30 years. In 1976, Algeria called the Moroccan takeover of Western Sahara a “‘mostly camels’ . Mohamed Abdelaziz, the Polisario Front former secretary-general (in white).