Sahrawis begin this Wednesday to commemorate God’s creation. Polisario Front bringing together their aspirations for independence half a century ago under a single identity. and chose to take up arms against colonialism, this strategy is being applied again today.
“The People’s Liberation Front of Saguia al Hamra and Río de Oro was born as a unique expression of the masses. chooses revolutionary violence and armed struggle as means, so that the Sahrawi, Arab and African people can enjoy their full freedom and Confront the maneuvers of Spanish colonialism”He declared it in his presentation manifesto of May 10, 1973.
Sahrawi flags are flying these days in the tents of five refugee camps (Auserd, Smara, Dakhla, El Aaiún and Boujdour) on Algerian territory. Welcome the Sahrawis in exile because Western sahra still busy for Morocco by 80%.
Celebrations will continue for the next ten days until the biggest anniversary for the Sahrawis on May 20, when they commemorate the first armed action against the Spanish presence in Western Sahara.
Fifty years later, at the last congress held last January and after the ceasefire with Morocco broke down in 2020, the Polisario Front once again reaffirmed armed struggle as the main axis to “restore sovereignty over its territory”.
No referendum or self-determination
Inspired by the freedom movements of the period and the independence achieved by neighboring countries, The Polisario Front was born in the midst of the United States’ decolonization movement. UN however, although Spain withdrew in 1975, its process was not completed.
With the withdrawal of Spain, Morocco and Mauritania took control of the region. The latter succumbed to territorial claims in 1979. Peace treaty With the Polisario Front, Rabat retains control of most of Western Sahara.
With the ceasefire between the Polisario Front and Morocco in 1991, the diplomatic path led to the establishment of the UN by the UN. United Nations Referendum Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), for the people to choose between independence and integration with Morocco.
A referendum has not been called so far, and Tensions between Polisario and Morocco broke out again in 2020. Since then, they have been waging low-intensity warfare.
Representative of the Saharan people
The Polisario Front is currently the legitimate representative of the Saharan people in the international arena and the ruler of 20% of Western Sahara and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a State in exile in Algeria recognized by only 80 countries. African Union (AU).
A year after its creation half a century ago, Ibrahim Gali He was elected general secretary of the movement. and again took the reins of Polisario, the military branch. Gali returned to leadership in 2016 and was re-elected secretary general at the January convention.
On this anniversary, Polisario claims its raison d’etre in the fight due to lack of results.From the first congress in 1973 – in a house in Mauritania with the slogan “We will seize freedom with a rifle” – until last January in refugee camps with the slogan “Intensify the armed struggle to expel the occupier and impose the sober regime”. “.
On May 20, Sahrawis from the diaspora and Western Sahara region will commemorate the fifty-year struggle for independence with a grand military parade reinforcing their origins 50 years ago.