Western Sahara Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the current state of Western Sahara
Western Sahara is recognized as a non-self-governing territory
What gives Western Sahara recognition as a non-self-governing territory?
UN Resolution 1514 (1960)
What does UN Resolution 1514 grant?
Sahrawi people self-determination
What 2 main actors are involved?
Morocco and Polisario Front
What other state allies with the Polisario Front?
Algeria
What key event took place in 1975?
Morocco and Mauritania annexed Western Sahara
What triggered the annexation of Western Sahara 1975?
Spain withdrew presence in area
What outcome did the annexation in 1975 have?
Beginning of conflict with Polisario Front
What role does UN play in Western Sahara?
Established MINURSO (Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) in 1991
What does MINURSO aim to do?
monitor ceasefire and facilitate referendum on self-determination
How successful has MINURSO been?
no referendum; over 200 killed since 2020
What was the Green March 1975?
350,000 Moroccans mobilised to Western Sahara to claim territory
What impact did the Green March have?
Intensified conflict
What is Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan?
offering self-rule to Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty.
Why was the Autonomy Plan Rejected?
Sahrawi want independence
How does Algeria influence the Western Sahara conflict?
providing humanitarian assistance to 165,000 Sahrawi people
What significance had the 2020 US recognition of Morocco have?
broader normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel
What are the humanitarian consequences of the Western Sahara conflict?
displacement and human rights violations: 165,000 refugees in camps in Algeria. face restricted freedom, military occupation, and limited access to resources.
What are the key economic resources in Western Sahara that influence the conflict?
phosphate reserves, offshore oil and gas potential
How does Realism explain the Western Sahara conflict?
conflict stems from the desire of Morocco to maintain territorial integrity and prevent secession by the Sahrawi people
According to Realism, what shapes the conflict in Western Sahara?
strategic interests in the region, supported by major powers like France and the U.S.
How does Liberalism explain the involvement of the UN in the Western Sahara conflict?
facilitate a peaceful resolution through negotiation and a referendum for self-determination. However, the lack of progress suggests weaknesses in multilateral governance.
What was the ICJ’s ruling on Western Sahara in 1975?
no sovereignty over Western Sahara by Morocco or Mauritania
How many countries recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)?
84
