40 years ago – the “Green March” in Morocco in the Western Sahara (November 6)

On occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) calls for more initiatives concerning the protection of human rights in the Western Sahara. “The mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) must urgently be extended by the task of monitoring and protecting human rights. Without human rights, there will never be a credible referendum on the future of the former Spanish colony, which was occupied by Morocco in an internationally wrongful act,” said the STP’s Africa-expert, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Wednesday. If the mandate were to be extended – which would have to be done by the Security Council – the UN might be able to get a grip on the continued human rights violations under Moroccan occupation. The everyday life of the Sahrawis in Western Sahara is characterized by arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and long-term imprisonments, as well as by violations of the freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly.

Further, the STP demands Europe to show more commitment towards human rights and self-determination for the Saharawi people. “Concerning Western Sahara, the European Union is not speaking with one voice,” said Delius. In March 2015, EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini promised to support the United Nations in trying to find an adequate solution to the conflict, but Europe is still divided over the question of Western Sahara. While France supports Morocco’s position and advocates for Western Sahara to be autonomous within Morocco, Germany emphasizes that the territorial conflict is not yet resolved. Sweden is even considering a diplomatic recognition of the Arab Democratic Republic of Sahara, which was proclaimed by the Sahrawi liberation movement POLISARIO. France rejects any extension of the MINURSO’s mandate.

On November 6, 1975 – following weeks of meticulous preparation work – King Hassan II. ordered 350,000 people to invade Western Sahara (under the leadership of the Moroccan Prime Minister Ahmed Osman) and claim power in the resource-rich region. 30,000 armed Moroccan soldiers participated in the march with which Morocco succeeded to take Western Sahara from Spain, its former colonial power. Before, POLISARIO had appealed to Spain to fulfill its role as a protecting power to keep Morocco from being invaded – but to no avail. The march was over after three days, because Morocco had achieved its goal: Following negotiations with Spain, the colony was handed over to Morocco and Mauritania.

Header Photo: glovanna sadono via Flickr