This Friday marked the start of a pivotal congress held by the Polisario Front inside refugee camps near Tindouf. It stands as the first major gathering of the independence movement since the Western Sahara ceasefire collapsed and the group declared renewed hostilities against Morocco. Official sources report more than 2,000 delegates taking part, with a rallying cry calling for an intensified armed struggle to oust the occupation and complete Saharawi sovereignty. (ECSaharaui)
The congress opens at a critical juncture in the liberation movement. A Spanish delegation supported by the Polisario Front, led by Abdulah Arabi, is seen working within the framework of a settlement plan. Before the sessions began, leaders stressed the importance of the gathering as a response to Morocco’s violations of the ceasefire, which some say compelled Saharawi people back to armed resistance. (ECSaharaui)
ECSaharaui notes that the congress began with high expectations and is described as potentially historic. It is viewed as a moment for major decisions shaping the future of the Saharan people and, given the political upheavals that have affected the national issue, as a turning point with lasting consequences. (ECSaharaui)
Alongside charting a roadmap for the years ahead, questions arose about the continuity of the movement’s leadership, particularly the role of General Secretary Brahim Gali. Reports from the EFE agency indicate that a faction within the leadership has clashed over governance in recent years and remains unresolved at the moment, with Bashir Mustafa I reportedly opposing the current position. (ECSaharaui)
Disappointment with the United Nations
The Saharawi independence gathering occurred two years after the war resumed and Morocco accused the Moroccan Army of meddling. The protest movement’s route included a blockade of a road linking Western Sahara with Mauritania, which had persisted for weeks. Since then, Polisario officials have stressed ongoing pressure on the Moroccan wall dividing the territories, a stance that Rabat rejects. (ECSaharaui)
In recent months, Polisario has also voiced dissatisfaction with the United Nations. After the Security Council extended the Minurso mission for another year, a Polisario representative lamented that the council had not provided practical steps to ensure the full implementation of the mission or a self-determination referendum. (ECSaharaui)
Morocco’s Diplomatic Push
On the opposite shore, Morocco has stepped up diplomatic activity to win backing for its autonomy proposal for Western Sahara and to diminish prospects for a referendum. Several countries opened consulates in the region as a sign of support, and former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously recognized Morocco’s sovereignty there. (ECSaharaui)
The autonomy plan has continued to draw attention in Madrid and Rabat. In March of the previous year, a high-level note from Spain’s government urged a more serious, realistic, and credible approach to resolving the dispute, a message aimed at easing tensions between Spain and Morocco and signaling a renewed diplomatic channel. (ECSaharaui)