Western Sahara, situated at the western end of Africa, has been striving for independence since the 1980s.
It endured the lengthy Western Sahara War for 16 years, yet to this day, the prospect of complete independence remains distant.
The international community once provided assistance, and both the African Union and the United Nations mediated, but why is it so difficult for Western Sahara to achieve independence?
First, let's delve into the historical background of Western Sahara.
In the mid-15th century, Portugal first occupied the region, although the concept of "Western Sahara" did not exist at the time.
By the 19th century, as Western colonial powers expanded into North Africa, France took the lead, bringing the surrounding areas of Western Sahara into its sphere of influence, leaving only a small territory for Spain.
After World War II, as a result of the insistence of countries like the United States and the awakening of nationalism in colonial countries, colonizers began to withdraw.
However, Spain did not withdraw from Western Sahara but instead treated it as a distant administrative province.
This sparked strong opposition from neighboring African countries, especially Morocco, which even went to war directly with Spain.
It wasn't until 1973 that the Polisario Front was established, determined to achieve independence through armed struggle.
However, due to its remote location and limited resources, no country was willing to help them.
Ultimately, Morocco and Mauritania cooperated to some extent, expelling Spain and beginning to claim the region.
In 1975, Spain withdrew its troops, but Morocco and Mauritania both claimed Western Sahara as their territory.
This decision sparked a 16-year war.
Although the Polisario Front was small in number and poorly equipped, with support from Algeria and Libya and employing guerrilla warfare tactics, it gradually formed a large force.
However, with most of Western Sahara's land occupied by Morocco and Mauritania, the resistance of the Polisario Front became increasingly difficult.
Despite some victories, Morocco adopted a more aggressive strategy, erecting defenses stretching for thousands of kilometers and receiving support from the United States.
On the international stage, while nearly 50 countries have diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), major powers have largely ignored it.
Achieving full independence and unity for the SADR seems bleak.
Nevertheless, the Polisario Front continues to strive, attempting to gain more international support through diplomatic means and reduce conflicts with Morocco.
However, with the disappearance of their strongest support after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the path to independence for the SADR has once again become difficult.
Although both sides signed a ceasefire agreement, there are still disagreements over the issue of Western Sahara's sovereignty.
Morocco insists on basing the vote on existing residents, while the Polisario Front advocates for a vote based on the population before Spain's withdrawal.
Therefore, despite Western Sahara's strong desire for independence, achieving this goal remains a daunting task.
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