Polisario Front facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Polisario Front
جبهة البوليساريو
Jabhat al-Bōlīsāryū Frente Polisario |
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|---|---|
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| Secretary-General | Brahim Ghali |
| Founder | El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed |
| Founded | 10 May 1973 |
| Headquarters | Sahrawi refugee camps, Tindouf Province, Algeria |
| Youth wing | Sahrawi Youth Union |
| Women's wing | National Union of Sahrawi Women |
| Trade union affiliation | Sahrawi Trade Union |
| Armed wing | Sahrawi People's Liberation Army |
| Ideology | Sahrawi nationalism Arab socialism Arab nationalism Social democracy Democratic socialism Secularism Historical: Marxism–Leninism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| International affiliation | Progressive Alliance Socialist International (consultative) |
| Colors | |
| Anthem | "صحراؤنا هي الوطن" lit. Sahara is our Homeland |
| Sahrawi National Council |
51 / 51
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| Pan-African Parliament |
5 / 5
(Sahrawi Republic seats) |
| Party flag | |
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The Polisario Front is a group that wants Western Sahara to be an independent country. Its full name in Spanish means "Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Río de Oro." These are two parts of Western Sahara.
The group started in 1973. Its main goal was to fight against Spain's control of Western Sahara. When Spain left in 1975, Mauritania and Morocco took over the land. The Polisario Front then fought against both countries.
They made Mauritania give up its claim in 1979. They kept fighting Morocco until a ceasefire in 1991. A vote was planned to decide the future of Western Sahara. However, this vote has been delayed many times. In 2020, the Polisario Front said the ceasefire was over. They started fighting again.
The United Nations sees the Polisario Front as the true voice of the Sahrawi people. It believes the Sahrawis should be able to decide their own future. In areas controlled by Morocco, the Polisario Front is not allowed. It is also against the law to fly their flag there.
Contents
History of the Polisario Front
How the Movement Started
In 1971, some young Sahrawi students began to organize. They formed a group to work for the freedom of their land. They tried to get help from Arab governments. But only Libya and Mauritania showed a little support.
So, the movement moved to Spanish-controlled Western Sahara. They wanted to start an armed fight there. The Polisario Front officially began on May 10, 1973. It was founded by students and some Sahrawi men who had served in the Spanish Army.
Their first leader was Brahim Gali. On May 20, they attacked a Spanish post. They took rifles from the soldiers. The Polisario then slowly gained control of large desert areas. By 1975, many local soldiers joined them. They brought their weapons and training.
A UN team visited in June 1975. They found that most Sahrawis wanted independence. They also said the Polisario Front was the strongest group. With help from Algeria, Polisario set up its main base in Tindouf.
Spain Leaves Western Sahara
Morocco put pressure on Spain with the Green March in November 1975. Spain then signed the Madrid Accords. This agreement gave Spanish Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania. In 1976, Morocco took over one part, and Mauritania took the other.
The Polisario Front declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on February 27, 1976. They started a guerrilla war against both Morocco and Mauritania. The International Court of Justice had given its opinion on the land. But both sides understood it differently.
The Polisario also had to protect Sahrawi refugees. Moroccan planes bombed refugee camps. So, the Polisario moved the refugees to Tindouf in Algeria. Over the next two years, the movement grew a lot. Algeria and Libya gave them weapons and money.
Their army grew to thousands of fighters. They replaced camels with modern jeeps. Old muskets were replaced by assault rifles. The new army used hit-and-run attacks. They attacked forces in Western Sahara, Morocco, and Mauritania.
Mauritania Stops Fighting
A peace treaty was signed on August 5, 1979. The new Mauritanian government agreed that Sahrawis had rights to Western Sahara. They gave up their own claims. Mauritania pulled out all its soldiers. Later, they officially recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. This caused a big problem with Morocco. Morocco then took over the area Mauritania had left.
The Moroccan Wall Stops the War
In the mid-1980s, Morocco built a huge sand wall. This wall is called the Moroccan Wall. It is guarded by an army. The wall encloses the rich parts of Western Sahara. This stopped the war from moving forward. Neither side could win a clear victory.
However, Polisario continued to launch artillery and sniping attacks. The war was costly for Morocco. Today, Polisario controls the area east of the Moroccan Wall. This area is called the Free Zone.
Ceasefire and the Referendum
A ceasefire between the Polisario Front and Morocco began on September 6, 1991. The MINURSO (UN) watches over it. The plan was to hold a referendum (a vote) on independence. But the vote was delayed because of disagreements over who could vote. Many attempts to restart the process have failed.
In April 2007, Morocco suggested that Western Sahara could govern itself. It would have some freedom but still be part of Morocco. The Polisario Front offered its own plan. They still wanted the agreed-upon referendum. But they were open to talking about Moroccans living in the area if independence was chosen. This led to talks called the Manhasset negotiations.
Four rounds of talks happened in 2007 and 2008. But no progress was made. Both sides refused to change their main ideas about who owns the land. Polisario agreed to add Morocco's self-governing idea to the ballot. But they would not give up the idea of an independence vote. Morocco only wanted to talk about its self-governing plan. They refused to consider an independence option.
The ceasefire between Morocco and Polisario Front lasted 30 years. It ended in November 2020. This happened when Morocco tried to open a road near the border with Mauritania.
A Sahrawi activist, Sultana Khaya, has faced restrictions since November 2020. She has been accused of supporting violence by Moroccan authorities. Human rights groups have reported that her home has been searched many times.
What the Polisario Front Believes
The Polisario Front is a group that believes in Sahrawi nationalism. This means they want Western Sahara to be its own country. They also believe in Arab socialism. Their main goal is to free Western Sahara from Moroccan control.
At first, their main idea was to end colonial rule. It was not until August 1974 that Polisario said it wanted full independence from Spain. It is a left-wing movement. Many see it as the true voice of the Sahrawi people.
The Polisario Front says that it is a "front." This means it includes all political ideas in Sahrawi society. It is not just one political party. So, it does not have a single party plan. But the Sahrawi republic's constitution gives clues about their beliefs. In 1991, Polisario voted for free market economics and a multi-party system. But it has been hard to create a free economy. This is because the society relies on aid.
The Polisario has said that if Western Sahara becomes independent, they will either:
- Become a political party in a system with many parties.
- Completely disband (break up).
This decision will be made by the Polisario Front after independence. Polisario leaders have also talked about secularism and religious tolerance. They say these ideas show the good nature of the Sahrawi refugee camps.
Views on Fighting
The Polisario Front has spoken out against terrorism. They do not support attacks on regular people. They call their fight a "clean war of national liberation." Since the ceasefire in 1989, they have said they will seek independence peacefully. This is as long as Morocco follows the ceasefire rules. These rules include holding a vote on independence. But they say they have the right to fight again if the rules are broken.
Mohamed Abdelaziz, a former leader, said that if Morocco did not follow the 1991 plan, it would lead to war. This would happen if the world community did not step in. In contrast, relations between Polisario and Mauritania have been peaceful since their 1979 treaty.
In 2005, Sahrawis in Moroccan-controlled areas held protests. The Polisario strongly supported these protests. Abdelaziz saw them as a new way to pressure Morocco. He said that if peaceful protests were stopped, their armed forces would get involved.
Polisario's Relationship with Algeria
Algeria has strongly supported the Polisario Front since 1975. They have given weapons, training, money, and food. This support has continued for over 30 years. In 1976, Algeria called Morocco's takeover of Western Sahara a "slow, deadly" invasion.
How the Polisario Front is Organized
Past Organization
Before 1991, the Polisario Front was organized differently. It was like a small, close-knit group of fighters. Most decisions were made by the top leaders. This helped them be very effective in battle. The Secretary General and a nine-person committee held most of the power.
But after 1975, the movement became like a government-in-waiting. It was based in the refugee camps in Algeria. This old structure could not handle the new, bigger tasks. So, the military structure joined with the camp administration. The camps had their own committees and elected groups. In 1976, the Sahrawi Republic also started acting as a government in the camps. The Polisario and Sahrawi Republic groups often had overlapping roles. It was hard to tell their powers apart.
A better joining of these groups happened in 1991. Both the Polisario and Sahrawi Republic groups were changed. They were integrated into the camp structure and separated more clearly. This happened after people asked for more democracy within the movement. It also led to important changes in the top leaders of both groups.
Current Organization
The Polisario Front is led by a Secretary General. The first one was Brahim Gali. He was replaced by El-Ouali in 1974. After El-Ouali's death, Mahfoud Ali Beiba was interim leader. In 1976, Mohamed Abdelaziz was elected. He held the position until he died in 2016. The Secretary General is chosen by the General Popular Congress (GPC). This meeting happens every four years.
The GPC is made up of representatives from the refugee camps. These camp meetings happen twice a year in each camp. There are also representatives from the women's group (UNMS), youth group (UJSARIO), workers' group (UGTSARIO), and military (SPLA).
Everyone in the camps can vote in the Popular Congresses. They also help with the camp's daily work. They do this through small 11-person groups. These groups are the smallest part of the camp's political system. They usually help with food, water, and schooling in their area. They work with higher-level groups to share resources. There is no official membership for Polisario. Anyone who helps or lives in the camps is considered a member.
Between the big congresses, the National Secretariat makes the main decisions. The Secretary General leads it. The GPC elects the National Secretariat. It has different committees for defense, foreign affairs, and more. In 2003, the National Secretariat had 41 members. Twelve of these were secret representatives from Moroccan-controlled areas. This was a new approach for Polisario. They used to only pick leaders from Sahrawis living outside the country. This change likely aims to strengthen their hidden network in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara. It also connects them with growing Sahrawi civil rights groups.
In 2004, a group called the Front Polisario Khat al-Shahid formed. They were against the ceasefire and the leader, Abdelaziz. This was the first time a group broke away from the idea of "national unity." They want changes in the movement and to restart fighting with Morocco. But this group is not very important to the conflict. It has split into two parts. Polisario has refused to talk with them. They say political decisions must be made within the existing system.
Armed Forces (SPLA)
People Who Left the Polisario Front
Since the late 1980s, some members of the Polisario have stopped their work. Many of them returned from the refugee camps in Algeria to Morocco. This includes some founders and high-ranking officials. Some of these people now support Morocco's claim over Western Sahara. Morocco calls this area its Southern Provinces.
Polisario's Foreign Relations
Today, 38 countries recognize the Polisario's claim over Western Sahara. Most support came from newly independent African countries. These include Angola and Namibia. Most Arab countries supported Morocco. Only Algeria and Libya have given major support to Polisario at different times. Iran recognized the SADR in 1980. Mauritania recognized the SADR in 1984. Syria and South Yemen also supported Polisario's view. Many third world countries that were non-aligned also supported the Polisario Front. They had very strong ties with Fretilin from East Timor. Both groups believe their struggles are similar.
Algeria and Libya were the main political and military supporters. Cuba was a distant third. Mauritania tries to stay neutral between Morocco and Algeria. But it officially recognizes the SADR as Western Sahara's government since 1984. It also has many Sahrawi refugees living there. Algeria's support remains strong. The Polisario relies on its bases and refugee camps in Algeria. Algeria helps equip the SPLA. But the Algerian government seems to have stopped Polisario from fighting again after 1991. They want to improve relations with the US and France. They also want to avoid worsening ties with Morocco.
Besides the Algerian military, other groups provide help. These include the WHO and UNHCR. They give food and emergency aid. Spanish groups also give valuable support.
Western Sahara During the Cold War
The main fighting in Western Sahara happened during the Cold War. But the conflict was not fully part of the US-Soviet rivalry. This was because both sides tried to avoid getting too involved. They did not want to harm relations with Morocco or Algeria. Also, neither saw it as a very important conflict. Morocco was with the US. Algeria generally sided with the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Later, Algeria took a more independent stance.
The United States said it was neutral. But it militarily supported Morocco against Polisario during the Cold War. This was especially true during the Reagan administration. Even so, Polisario never got support from the Soviet Union. The entire Eastern Bloc chose to trade with Morocco. They refused to recognize the SADR. This made Polisario rely almost entirely on Algeria and Libya. Some African and Latin American countries also gave political support. Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from European countries (like Sweden, Norway, Spain) helped. But they usually focused on humanitarian aid. The ceasefire happened when the Cold War ended. Interest in the conflict seemed to fade in the 1990s. This was because the media paid less attention.
Countries Recognizing the SADR
A big disagreement between Morocco and Polisario is about countries recognizing the SADR. This means seeing it as a real country and the true government of Western Sahara. In 2004, South Africa officially recognized the SADR. This happened because the promised vote for Western Sahara was never held. Kenya and Uruguay followed in 2005. Some other countries improved their relations. But some countries, like Albania, Chad, and Serbia, stopped recognizing the SADR. In 2006, Kenya paused its decision to recognize the SADR. It wanted to act as a mediator in the conflict.
See also
In Spanish: Frente Polisario para niños
