✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers- Algeria, May 10, 2024 – Friday marked the celebration of the 51st anniversary of the founding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia El-Hamra and Oued Ed-Dahab (Polisario Front) by the Sahrawi people, occurring amidst unprecedented international and regional transformations.
The Polisario Front has achieved significant milestones in establishing a liberation project that has invigorated the Sahrawi cause on all fronts. After years of peaceful resistance, often met with repression by Spanish colonial authorities, and with the United Nations’ recognition of their struggle for self-determination and freedom, the Sahrawi people realized the necessity of intensifying the fight within a national liberation movement and embracing armed struggle.
Thus, the Polisario Front was formed on May 10, 1973, becoming the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. Its decision on May 20, 1973, to launch armed struggle marked a pivotal moment in Sahrawi history, signifying their commitment to their cause and the end of a period of colonial dominance. This move positioned the Polisario Front as a model of struggle for liberation movements worldwide seeking to break free from colonial rule.
The anniversary of the Front’s creation arrives after 51 years of relentless struggle on all fronts, blending the Sahrawis’ pain with their hopes, as they remain determined to achieve independence, as stated by Sahrawi President’s Advisor Bachir Moustapha Seyed.
Completing the Decolonization Process in Africa
For Mr. Bachir, this anniversary “represents an important milestone in the struggle, rooted in the unwavering belief that sacrifices are essential to liberate the country and fulfill the Sahrawi people’s dream of building their independent and sovereign state, completing the decolonization process in Africa.”
Over the past half-century, resistance and struggle on all fronts have been significant achievements for the Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front. This includes accomplishments on the military front, the establishment of the modern Sahrawi state with its institutions, and the expansion of the national liberation struggle. Notably, the Sahrawi Republic is a founding member of the African Union (AU), a reality recognized nationally, regionally, and internationally, with numerous global relations established.
Today, under the leadership of the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi people continue their struggle by targeting Moroccan occupation positions and fortifications. Since the decision to resume armed struggle on November 13, 2020, in response to Morocco’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the aim remains to regain national sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.
Despite the significant disparity in resources between the two sides, the Polisario Front has liberated large parts of Sahrawi territory during certain periods of armed struggle. Notably, it has thwarted Morocco’s plan to impose permanent occupation of Sahrawi lands, with victories such as the battles of Ezzag and Tan-Tan.
The Resumption of Armed Struggle Breathes New Life into the Sahrawi Issue
The decision announced by the Polisario Front on October 30, 2019, to review its participation in the UN peace process marks a crucial shift. It signifies the Sahrawi people’s decision to take control and break away from a process aimed at maintaining the status quo.
According to Polisario Front’s representative to the UN, Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Omar, the continuation of armed struggle has reinvigorated the Sahrawi issue on the international diplomatic and media stage, breaking the international silence that accompanied the situation of ‘Neither war, nor peace’ for nearly three decades.
This resolution has bolstered the Sahrawi side’s position at the UN, representing a just and necessary response to Moroccan intransigence. It has disoriented the occupation state and other parties that sought to block the process.
Since its inception, the Polisario Front’s primary mission has been to lead the liberation process of the Sahrawi people, defending their national aspirations and their inherent right to self-determination and independence. Their ultimate goal remains to extend sovereignty over the entire territory of the Sahrawi Republic.
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