Explained: West Sahara Dispute, Why Has Algeria Cut Its 20-year-old Treaty With Spain?

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that the country would ¡°immediately¡± suspend its 20-year-old treaty of ¡°friendship, good neighbourliness, and co-operation" with Spain over the Western Sahara dispute.

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The treaty brought both the countries together on various issues like migration flows, and anti-human trafficking measures along with the economic, educational, and defence sectors.

President Tebboune also announced a ban on imports from Spain against the recent foreign policy of Spain on the disputed Western Sahara region.

About the Western Sahara region

Western Sahara, is a desert region located in Northwest Africa. It stretches across 2.5 lakh sq km and is bordered by Morocco in the North, Algeria in a small northeastern patch, and Mauritania in the East and South.

AFP

Having a long coast with the Atlantic Ocean, it is rich in minerals and fishing industries flourish in the region. The region has less than 6 lakh population and is home to the nomadic indigenous Sahrawi tribe. The tribe community has been fighting with the Morocco establishment claiming their right to self-determination.

What is the Western Sahara dispute?

In 1884, the conflict arose when Spain colonised Western Sahara. To constitute the Spanish Sahara province, Spain united the two main regions of Western Sahara, namely, Rio De Oro and Saguia el Hamra.

In 1975, Spain withdrew from the region and Mauritania, Morocco and the Polisario Front came forward to claim the region.

After an immediate withdrawal of Spain from the region, the Polisario Front announced the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara but the West did not recognise it but is recognised by 70 countries and is also African Union¡¯s member.

In 1975, the International Court of Justice said that Morocco and Mauritania could not claim their sovereignty over the region and it should be decolonised.

Reuters

Not satisfied with the decision, the Moroccan Sultan started the ¡°Green March¡± toward Western Sahara resulting in thousands of Moroccans there.

Meanwhile, the Polisario Front continues to fight Mauritania and Morocco and a ceasefire was signed between Mauritania and the Front in 1979. Further, a UN-proposed peace deal settled the dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

After the 1991 Agreement, over 80% of Western Sahara is controlled by Morocco and the SADR operates from the eastern parts and refugee camps in Algeria.

The government of Morocco proposed limited autonomy to the Front but they refused saying that Morocco would continue to control key sectors like defence and foreign affairs.

Why does Spain shift its policy over the region?

The official position of Spain over the West Sahara region is to settle the issue through a UN-sponsored referendum.

In the last few years, the relations between Spain and Morocco were impacted when the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali was allowed to be treated for COVID-19 (in Spain) by the Spain government.

Building pressure on Spain, Morocco reduced control over the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which resulted in 10,000 migrants to the border to enter the country in 2021.

AFP

The recent policy of Spain supports the 2007 plan of Morocco for Western Sahara, in which cooperation on migration, energy, industry, sea travel, culture, and economy are included. A statement by Morocco¡¯s royal palace states, ¡°Spain considers the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007 as the basis, the most serious, realistic and credible, for resolving the dispute.¡±

In 2020, the United States became the first country to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

What does Algeria say?

In 2021, Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco over the issue. Algerian President Tebboune considered Spain¡¯s stance as unjustifiable and would contribute ¡°directly to the degradation of the situation¡±.

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In 1976, SADR was recognised by Algeria and since then is supporting the Polisario Front. After Moroccan violence, about 1.7 lakh Sahrawi took refuge in Algeria¡¯s Tindouf province camps.

Furthermore, Algeria is the prominent supplier of gas to Spain and this policy shift might affect the situation. The country also suspended foreign trade of goods and services with Spain.

Inputs from The Hindu and The India Express.

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