The
Anger of Morocco counters the African Union.
Afrogouvernance - By Gustave Botela Lipo - April 14th, 2008.
To understand better
why, of the withdraw of Morocco in the Organization of the African Unity (OAU) or of the African Union for more than two supporting
decades, it is really necessary to stand back in time, because it is too deep.
After many researches, reasons are deeper than OAU or
AU did not take enough time before making its decision. At about 1960s as we can definitely understand, then Africa did not have many
intellectuals to sit down and study seriously this file. Otherwise, it was wiser to give this famous file in the hands of the more
competent experts, before returning the verdict.
AU pleads the return of Morocco within the family, it is very well. But how! And is
the question of Western Sahara; without forgetting that of the camps of Tindouf which is a humanitarian drama. These beings who die
in these camps are Africans or NOT?
A humanitarian drama which persists for more than half centuries that the African community is
unable and incompetent to solve. If Morocco had not given this fate in the hands of the UN, which at least acknowledges largeness
and seriousness of problem, nothing would be made.
We recognize all chess owed to the missions of the peace of the UN in Africa, but
lures to pay tribute to the experts who work within this Organization, who unfortunately have no last words.
AU just like the EU.
In the similar case, the EU would remain crossed arms and to see enduring it’s similar to safeguard financial interests of not European?
The Africans leaders think of it still twice!
History of Morocco
I am not going to relate you from time immemorial, but only any important
points and even if it means you to continue researching for the rest.
Morocco is a region of the northwest of Africa the name of which,
diverted from Marrakech, imperial and key city from 1062 till 1273, goes back up to XVIth century. Having lived from the prehistory
by Berber populations, in the country knew Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman populations, vandals, Byzantine and finally Arab. It is
during the banishment of Idris Ier, escaping the caliphate Abbasside that, in 788, gave birth to a state in this Maghreb el-Aqça (putting
to bed extreme or extreme Maghreb). Of this day, the Moroccan nation always kept, if it is not its absolute independence, a very strong
self-government.
Kingdom of Morocco is a country located in the northwest of Africa belonging in Maghreb. It is edged by the Atlantic
Ocean on the West, by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea in the north, by Algeria in the East, and de facto in the
south by Mauritania beyond of questioned Western Sahara.
Morocco has as capital Rabat.
The political regime of Morocco is a constitutional
monarchy the actual sovereign of which is Mohammed VI. Morocco is member of a good many organizations among which, notably, the Union
of Arab Maghreb, the French-speaking world, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic conference. Morocco is the only country
of Africa which is not member of the Union African nowadays.
The history of Western Sahara
That of a territory is which was never
organized in State-nation. Arid territory was populated by some nomadic tribes; its history is intimately linked to that of her neighbors,
particularly Morocco and Mauritania. After some fruitless tries in XVth century, the Spanish makes a colony between 1884 and 1975. Decolonization comes
true in poor conditions because she could not clarify administratively in culmination in the annexation of Western Sahara by Morocco
and Mauritania and in armed conflict of an independence movement, the Forehead Polisario. Western Sahara is a non-autonomous territory
according to the UN, demanded by Morocco and the Arab Sahraouian democratic Republic today, its final status remains outstanding since
the cease-fire of 1991.
The green Walk indicates a peaceful step thrown by the Moroccan king Hassan II on November 6th, 1975 with the
intention of appending the territory of Western Sahara occupied by Spain. The Moroccans consider this Green Walk as being a recovery
of the territories of which Morocco estimates who their comeback historically.
The king solicited the departure of 350 000 Moroccan
civil volunteers armed with the Koran and with the Moroccan flag towards Western Sahara which Spain did not want to leave. Purpose
was to put pressure on the Spanish administration so that it decolonizes Western Sahara and restores it in Morocco.
In front of fait
accompli, Spain negotiates then with Morocco and Mauritania and the three countries sign agreements of Madrid which envisage the transfer
of the sovereignty of the two northern thirds of the territory (Saguia el-Hamra) in Morocco and third remaining south (Wadi ed-Dahab) in Mauritania.
Western
Sahara, called in Morocco Moroccan Sahara, is an arid territory of 266 000 km ² from the northwest of Africa, edged by the Moroccan
province of Tarfaya in the north, Algeria in the north is, Mauritania in the East and in the south, while the west coast(rib) overlooks
the Atlantic ocean.
Sahara Westerner, not autonomous Territory according to the UN
This former Spanish colony still found final status
on juridical plan, no more than thirty years after the departure of the Spanish in 1976. Western Sahara is in the grip of a conflict
reflecting at the same time the conflict of certain Sahraouis for their independence and the hegemonic rivalry of Morocco and Algeria in
this region. Become a total stake, the Saharan file always blocks the building of the Union of Arab Maghreb (UMA). The territory is
demanded at the same time by Morocco and by the Arab Sahraouian democratic Republic (RASD), founded by the Forehead Polisario in 1976.
This one is a movement objective of which is the complete independence of Western Sahara; it is supported by military means, financially
and diplomatically by Algeria. Since the cease-fire of 1991, Morocco controls and manages about 80 % of the territory, while the Forehead
Polisario in control 20 %.
The UN tries to organize a referendum of self-determination, under the aegis of the Mission of United Nations
for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) since 1991.
War 1976-1991
In 1975, an advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice confirms the existence of historical links between the populations of Western Sahara and Morocco as well as Mauritanian
group, but concludes that they are not likely to prevent a referendum of self-determination. Some days after this opinion, as city
higher, Morocco organizes the green walk (November 6th, 1975) to mark the will of a Moroccan sovereignty on this territory. This leads
Spain to sign agreements of Madrid with Morocco and Mauritania, on November 14th, 1975, to make official the distribution of the territory.
Morocco acquires the two north thirds, and Mauritania the third south; Algeria and Sahraouis are not consulted. The collection of
the Spanish troops, decided a little before the death of Franco, is made between 1975 and 1976.
On February 27th, 1976, the Arab Sahraouiandemocratic Republic (RASD) is proclaimed by the Forehead Polisario in Bir Lehlou just
after the departure of the last Spanish soldier of the territory. At the same time, the armed conflict of the Forehead Polisario turns
round against Moroccan and Mauritanian force which it considers to be new force of occupation. Between the end of 1975 and 1976, dozens
thousands of Sahraouis leave Sahara Westerner and take refuge in Algeria.
Morocco indeed recovers the rest of the territory in 1979,
following the collection of Mauritania. In 1980s. A war of ambushes with the Forehead Polisario comes to an end in 1991 further to
a cease-fire favored by the mediation of the Organization of United Nations; a referendum organized by United Nations on final status
was put back again and again.
Lawful status
Western Sahara appears on the list of the not autonomous territories according
to the UN since 1963, further to a request of Morocco.
Since the coming into force of the cease-fire of 1991, the final status of Western
Sahara remains to determine.
The Organization of the African Union recognizes RASD
The African Union (then OAU) acknowledged
in 1982 the Arab democratic Republic Sahraouian (formed by Polisario, and which demands sovereignty on Western Sahara), and welcomed
it as Member State, at the instigation of Algeria.
This recognition led Morocco to leave OAU in 1985. Since, the position of
this last (become the African Union) on question did not evolve.
Since the departure of the Spanish, the UN considers that Western
Sahara is a territory without administration. In 2002, an opinion of right of grunts Corell, vice-general secretary in the questions
of right, concludes that Morocco is not the potency managing of the territory. The document S / 2002 / 161 points out:
On November
14th, 1975, a Statement of principles on Western Sahara was signed in Madrid by Spain, Morocco and Mauritania (the Agreement of Madrid).
By virtue of this statement, powers and responsibilities of Spain, as Potency managing of the territory, were transferred to a temporary
tripartite administration. The Agreement of Madrid did not envisage transfer of sovereignty on the territory nor conferred on none
of the signatories the status of managing potency, status which Spain could not besides transfer unilaterally. The transfer of administrative
powers in Morocco and in Mauritania in 1975 had impact on the status of Western Sahara as not autonomous territory.
In the same way
it is pointed out in the reports of the General Secretary to the Security Council:
Document S / 2006 / 817: If none of both parties
can accept this approach opened to all, there will not be negotiations. It would be about a serious back there for Morocco, which
deeply wishes that the international community acknowledges its sovereignty on Western Sahara. A back for the one is not nevertheless
automatically a win for other one, and the Forehead Polisario should not be delighted either, because as the dead end persists, the
international community gets used inevitably more and more to the financial year of a control of Morocco of western Sahara. Document
S / 2006 / 249: The Security Council would not be in even to invite parties to lead negotiations concerning the self-government of
western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, because this wording would implicate the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty on western
Sahara, what was out of question as long as no Member de l' Organization of United Nations would have acknowledged this sovereignty.
From
2003, certain documents of the UN qualify Morocco of ' « managing authority », what would give him right to exploit the natural resources
of the territory, for instance to allow oil concessions. The government of RASD also demands potency managing of the territory.
POLITICAL
SITUATION
Western Sahara is a major stake of rivalry between Morocco and Algeria. Morocco accuses this one of searching an opening
on the Atlantic ocean, while Algeria shows will to confine that she called « expansionism chérifien », " serious danger " for all
Eastern neighbors and of the south.
Moroccan position
Western Sahara is considered by Morocco as constituting its provinces of (said
south Moroccan Sahara). This demanded power as historical and lawful by Morocco on this party of Sahara is questioned by the Forehead
Polisario and Algeria. United Nations search a peaceful compromise in this conflict.
Morocco rejects conclusions of the advisory opinion
of the International Court of Justice of 1975: according to him, the courtyard made an error of interpretation by trying to use a
western legal framework. The historical links of loyalty expressed by numerous leaders constitute of the Moroccan nation as the membership
of Western Sahara in Morocco, and there is no other historical source of sovereignty.
The question of Western Sahara is also a major
factor of political stability in Morocco: according to authorities, the unification of the territory makes the object of a national
general agreement, and a government which would act contrary to this general agreement would collide immediately with a strong hostility
of the population.
Morocco maintains that Polisario is part of Islamic sphere of influence, and that some of its leaders are linked
with networks jihadistes. It does not acknowledge Polisario officially as organism representative of the Sahraouian population, and
considers that it is about a movement manipulated by Algeria, for a long time only party with which Morocco was ready to negotiate.
After semiofficial contacts, Morocco agreed to deal directly and officially with Polisario in 2007.
In 2006, Morocco decided to give
it to consider to be its territory an internal self-government, and to entrust to advisory royal Council for Saharan business (CORCAS) the
study of the possible statutes of self-government in the region. However, Polisario and Algeria refuse any resolution which does not
include the option of the independence of the questioned territory.
Morocco recommends a broad self-government as part of the sovereignty
of the kingdom alaouite to solve the conflict of Western Sahara, an ancient Spanish colony under control of Rabat since 1975. The
proposal of self-government of western Sahara is according to Rabat a step(walk) « modernist, democratic and credible », taking into
account the political process which knows the chérifien kingdom these last years. This plan is supported by several countries as the
United States France, Spain, Israel as well as the most part of countries being part of the Arab league.
Position polPolisariour Polisario
Western
Sahara is an occupied territory, from which the legitimate government is the Arab Sahraouis democratic Republic (RASD). Polisariocalls to the right of self-determination of the people Sahraouian, who must be able to express itself in a referendum, Although the
UN does not acknowledge RASD as State; it considers that Polisario is one of the parties implicated in conflict. RASD is part of the Union
African.
Algerian Position
Algeria claimed the departure of the Spanish of Western Sahara for 1960s, while this territory was under
their domination. After the collection of Spain and the annexation by Morocco and Mauritania, Algeria, having been moved aside from
the talks of Madrid concerning the distribution of the territory, helps Sahraouis in their claims in independence, and receives a
majority of the Sahraouis refugees. It is for the applying of resolutions of the UN concerning the organization of a referendum of
the Sahraouian people under the aegis of the UN. In 1976, the Algerian army was directly involved in conflict, during confrontations
in Amgala, before leaving by military means. Algeria continued supporting politically, diplomatically and by military means (by the
provisioning of weapon) the Forehead Polisario, and the tenth country is must have acknowledged RASD. Its official position is that
it does not have land claims on western Sahara, that it is not actively involved in the conflict which compares RASD and kingdom of
Morocco, and which its support of the Sahraouian people releases from its principles of help to all people who struggle for the decolonization
of their country across the world. However, some sources mentioned that Algeria was for the respect for the choice of the people Sahraouianeither in independence or in its unification with Morocco, provided that this choice is expressed by referendum way under the supervision
of the UN.
Position of the UN
In 1963, Western Sahara has been inscribed, at the request of Morocco, on the list of the non-autonomous
territories, while it was another Spanish colony. The territory always kept this status since. The UN is directly involved since 1988, when
Morocco and Polisario came to an agreement for the keeping of a referendum of self-determination, to acquire a peaceful exit in conflict.
In 1991, the UN acquired one stop it fire between belligerents, to a calendar which stipulated the keeping of referendum next year.
Further to uninterrupted disagreement on the composition of electoral rolls, this referendum has not although taken place.
In April,
2007, the Security Council of United Nations adopts a new resolution (n ° on 1754) which urges parties to negotiate « with a view
to reaching a mutually allowable and fair, lasting political resolution which allows the self-determination of the people of Western
Sahara ».
These direct negotiations take place in Manhasset in the state of New York since.
Borders
Western Sahara is border of Algeria on
42 km, Mauritania on 1561 km, and Morocco on 443 km.
The zones of control of Morocco and Polisario are separated by wall of sand, constructed
by the Moroccans. The zone under Moroccan control is of the wall, the zone under control of Polisario in the East on the West. The
wall measures more than 2 000 km long and allows to block vehicles. It is composed of a series of barriers makes two ballasts of sand of
3 meters high protected by fields of mines and put fortifications every 5 km.
Refugees (the camps of Tindouf, in Algeria)
According
to the general management of the humanitarian assistant (ECHO) of the European commission, 155 430 Sahraouis refugees are in the camps
of Tindouf, in Algeria. The Post of high commissioner of United Nations for the refugees nourishes 90 000 on it. Morocco questions
these figures, and the former member of the Forehead Polisario speaks about 25 000 refugees.
The four main camps are named El Aaiun, Awserd, Smara, and Dakhla,
according to cities of Western Sahara.
There are also communities taken refuge in Mauritania, in the Canary Islands, in underground Spain and
in Cuba.
Moroccan regions on the territory of Western Sahara
Morocco, which considers that Western Sahara is part of its territory,
included it in three regions:
This regional cutting up is not internationally acknowledged, and the Moroccan regions also cover
the territory controlled by the Forehead Polisario, where Morocco practices no control (this territory is named "buffer zone" by Morocco,
and « liberated zone » by Polisario).
Under control head-on Polisario
Morocco, which considers that Western Sahara is part of its territory,
included it in three regions:
This regional cutting up is not internationally acknowledged, and
the Moroccan regions also cover the territory controlled by the Forehead Polisario, where Morocco practices no control (this territory
is named "buffer zone" by Morocco, and « liberated zone » by Polisario).
Analysis
Since the beginning of this Saga, AU then OAU,
made nothing, really anything makes. AU made an ative decision without deepened consultation. The UN, with its experts, plays a preponderant
role but AU is absolutely erased. Is it Morocco which does not want AU, or it is Incompetence on behalf of AU? It belongs to you to
judge it!
The Commission of AU has interest in concentrating seriously of this dramatic situation between Morocco and RASD. It
is dramatic view that, the camps of Tindouf a Hell for this population African is which saw overthere. How AU which acknowledged the
legitimacy of RASD, is not able of finishing it with the camps of Tindouf, because Algeria and RASD are every members in 100 % of
AU? Why not to put pressure in Algeria to close these camps? - Since rents Charter changes jacket and become AU, had also changed
on a point.
With OAU - not interference; with AU interference.
Proof is there; AU did not defer intervening in the islands of Comoros
newly. And it is for when the decision of intervention developed muscles to finish it also with the camps of Tindouf?
For the readers
and readers who have never heard spoken from the camps of Tindouf, click on it links:
Polisario Apartheid Slaves - Part 1 -
Serfhood in the camps of Tindouf - 1ére left
http://www.wideo.fr/p/fr/iLyROoafYYln.html
Polisario Apartheid Slaves - Part 2 - Serfhood
in the camps of Tindouf Algeria - 2éme left
http://www.wideo.fr/p/fr/iLyROoafYYl_.html
All passages in over brilliance (yellow);
put all together would say that these paragraphs speak only the single language. Therefore, Morocco, Algeria, UN, Polisario, is all
agreed on the agreement of referendum. Who blocks process then?
Morocco and Polisario already seems to have come to an agreement on
annexation by referendum diplomatic way, it more does not remain than to make official facts.
Algeria opposes for two reasons: 1-It
is thanks to the pressure of Algeria the Spanish left in a great hurry western Sahara towards 1960s while this territory was under
their domination; 2-After the withdraw of Spain and the annexation by Morocco and Mauritania, Algeria, was moved aside from dialogues
of Madrid carrying sharing out of the territory on. So, it helps Sahraouis in their claims in independence, and receives a majority
of the Sahraouis refugees.
To see nearly, Algeria is not clear in its statements:
a) It is for the applying of resolutions of the UN
concerning the organization of a referendum of the Sahraouian people under the aegis of the UN;
b) Its official position is that it
does not have land claims on western Sahara, that it is not actively involved in the conflict which compares(divides) RASD and kingdom
of Morocco;
c) Its support of the Sahraouian people relay of its principles of help to all people who struggle for the decolonization
of their country across the world.
d) However, some sources mentioned that Algeria was for the respect for the choice of the peopleSahraouian either in independence or in its unification with Morocco, provided that this choice is expressed by referendum way under
the supervision of the UN.
On the point c) Algeria must clarify its position. These reasons of intervention are not consistent. Algeria
also wants its part of cake. He also wants to impose her authority on this territory. Its conflict since these long dates must be
profitable and it is one of the major factors that blocks talks absolutely between Morocco and Polisario. Algeria he wants to be consulted
during the talks of Madrid so could put down his veto, but unfortunately.
To allow you to read and to make your comments, I enclose
the first episode of this document. The fellow will be concentrated on the analysis, with new proof in support it, conclusion and
certain so necessary recommendations.
Debate is opened and I wait for your comments, which will also be broadcast at once. To write
us address is the following: <mailto:info@afrogouvernance.org>.
Good reading!
To follow …
Sources of information and references.
Other links
