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Possible turning point

Every time the UN initiates new solutions to the conflict between Western Sahara and Morocco, Morocco responds with vigorous protests. All indications are that the aggression from Morocco is carefully calculated – this time too.




(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)

For 25 years, the UN has tried to find a final solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, so far without success. A statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has now escalated the conflict, and relations between Morocco and Western Sahara are now said to be at their worst since the ceasefire agreement was signed in 1991: Just before Easter, Ban Ki-moon visited the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, where he met the Secretary General of the Sahrawi Liberation Movement Polisario. He also visited one of the MINURSO bases, the UN operation established in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire agreement between the parties and hold a referendum on independence. During the visit, the Secretary-General referred to Western Sahara as "occupied". In doing so, he triggered vigorous reactions from Morocco, which accused the Secretary-General of taking sides in the conflict.

Calculated aggression. Despite what Morocco itself has to say on the matter, international international law is crystal clear, and supports the Secretary-General's choice of words: The people of Western Sahara are entitled to self-determination, and Morocco has illegally occupied the area. It is also part of the story that the Secretary-General has for a long time tried to visit both Morocco and Occupied Western Sahara, but that Morocco has refused him entry. In light of this, the allegations that Ban Ki-moon has taken sides in the conflict because he only visited the Sahrawi camps, to say the least, are imprecise.

No country in the world today recognizes Morocco's demands in this area.

While we were in the middle of "the quiet week" in Norway, it was not at all quiet in Morocco and Western Sahara. With free transportation and food, Moroccan authorities lured tens of thousands to Rabat's streets to demonstrate. In addition, Morocco ordered civilian personnel in the MINURSO operation to leave Western Sahara, and also threatened to withdraw from all UN missions around the world.
All indications are that the aggression from Morocco is carefully calculated. In the report "Peace in sight?" As SAIH released just before Easter, it is clear that every time the UN initiates new solutions, Morocco responds with vigorous protests. And each time the UN gives in to the pressure and traces of the process. Unlike the Sahrawi people, the Moroccan authorities are in a position where they have time on their side and where they have the opportunity to push their will. With France as their ally, they are also secured support from the UN Security Council. No country in the world today recognizes Morocco's demands in this area, but neither do they want to go out with Morocco. But what now? Are we at a crossroads? Will the Secretary-General's statements and the powerful reactions finally be able to force a change?

International law first. At the time of writing, the Secretary-General's report to the UN Security Council on the situation in Western Sahara is just around the corner. The Security Council will soon take up MINURSO's mandate for its annual treatment. We hope that Ban Ki-moon has not been intimidated by Morocco's behavior, but that he uses his latest report before retiring as Secretary-General to say clearly that Western Sahara must gain its independence. In that case, he will need all the support he can get from countries such as Norway, and that pressure be exerted on Morocco and the country's supporters in the Security Council.
"International law is our first-line defense," Foreign Minister Børge Brende said in 2015. Now words must be turned into action on the Western Sahara issue. The time has come to show that international law and human rights outweigh the interests of individual countries.


Riseth is the political deputy chair of the Students and Academics International Relief Fund (SAIH).

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