Why Western Sahara should be free ?

 

Western Sahara is a territory located on the northwest coast of Africa and is currently under Moroccan control. However, there is a long-standing conflict over the sovereignty of the territory, with the Sahrawi people (the indigenous people of Western Sahara) and the independence movement known as the Polisario Front advocating for the independence of Western Sahara and the establishment of a Sahrawi state.

There are several reasons why Western Sahara should be free and allowed to determine its own future.

First, the Sahrawi people have a long and rich history in the region, dating back centuries. The Sahrawi people have their own distinct culture, language, and traditions, and they have long maintained their own way of life in Western Sahara.

Second, the Sahrawi people have been subjected to significant human rights abuses under Moroccan control. Moroccan authorities have been accused of using excessive force to suppress pro-independence protests, and there have been numerous reports of human rights abuses, including torture and forced disappearances, against Sahrawi activists and political prisoners.

Third, the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara is not recognized by the international community. The United Nations (UN) has consistently called for a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the conflict, and the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in place since 1991 to facilitate the organization of a referendum on the final status of Western Sahara. However, the referendum has yet to be held, and Moroccan authorities have consistently blocked efforts to hold a vote.

Fourth, the Sahrawi people have the right to self-determination, as recognized by the UN. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Morocco has ratified, guarantees the right of all peoples to self-determination, including the right to "freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development."

In conclusion, Western Sahara should be free because the Sahrawi people have a long and rich history in the region, have been subjected to human rights abuses under Moroccan control, the Moroccan occupation is not recognized by the international community, and the Sahrawi people have the right to self-determination. It is important for the international community to support the Sahrawi people in their quest for independence and to work towards a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the conflict.