Commemoration and a history of a national movement
Beginning this week, Sahrawis mark a period of reflection on the origins of their struggle and their long quest for an identity tied to independence. The Polisario Front emerged from a wish shared by many to unite a people who had long sought to free themselves from colonial control and to chart their own future. The strategy of mobilizing through resistance was adopted as a path to national self-determination, an approach that continues to influence discussions today.
The People’s Liberation Front of Saguia al Hamra and Río de Oro defined itself in its early days as a unified expression of the masses. It chose revolutionary violence and armed struggle as means to secure freedom for the Sahrawi, the wider Arab world, and the African continent, challenging the years of external domination and the ongoing maneuvers of colonial powers. This was stated in the manifesto issued on May 10, 1973.
Today, Sahrawi symbols fly in the tents of five refugee camps in exile across Algeria, including Auserd, Smara, Dakhla, El Aaiún, and Boujdour. The presence of Western Sahara in exile remains a focal point for those who continue to advocate for recognition and self-determination while the region experiences ongoing political tensions.
The celebrations are scheduled to extend over the next ten days, culminating on May 20 with the memory of the first armed action against Spanish presence in Western Sahara and the broader struggle for sovereignty.
Fifty years after the movement’s formal convening and after the 2020 breakdown of the ceasefire with Morocco, the Polisario Front reaffirmed armed struggle as a central pillar in the effort to restore sovereignty over the territory and ensure the Sahrawi people’s political destiny.
No referendum yet; the question of self-determination
Inspired by regional freedom movements and neighboring independence achievements, the Polisario Front arose during a time of decolonization in the region. Spain had withdrawn in 1975, but the process of resolving Western Sahara’s status remained unfinished in the eyes of the Sahrawi people and their supporters.
With Spain’s exit, neighboring states asserted control, and the Moroccan and Mauritanian governments laid claim to strips of the territory. Mauritania ultimately ceded its claims in 1979. Morocco has since maintained governance over most of Western Sahara following a peace agreement with the Polisario Front.
The 1991 ceasefire opened a diplomatic track led by the United Nations through MINURSO, a mission created to oversee a referendum that would decide between independence and integration with Morocco. A referendum has not taken place, and tensions between the Polisario Front and Morocco have flared again in recent years, leading to episodic clashes and continued low‑level conflict.
A representative voice for the Saharan people
The Polisario Front is regarded by many as the authentic representative of the Saharan people on the international stage and governs a portion of Western Sahara through the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, a government-in-exile based in Algeria that has limited recognition across the world. The African Union position has historically supported the right of the Sahrawi people to determine their future and to pursue dignity and sovereignty.
About half a century after the movement’s inception, leadership inside the Polisario Front has seen changes in direction. A key figure who has reemerged in leadership roles has guided the organization through several phases, reinforcing its identity and strategic priorities. The leadership has continually referenced the historical milestones of the first congress in 1973, often recalling the famous slogan that framed the struggle for freedom, while also adapting to the current political landscape in refugee camps and the wider diaspora.
On the May 20 anniversary, Sahrawis both in exile and within the Western Sahara region anticipate a large demonstration of unity and a reaffirmation of their historical ties. The commemoration serves as a reminder of the shared origins and the enduring appeal of a movement that has remained resolute in its aims for independence and national sovereignty.