"The Western Sahara stalemate can be broken, but it will require realistic compromise that meets the basic demands of all parties, and provides the region with stability, security, and self-determination," said Robert Holley, executive director, Moroccan American Center for Policy. "Morocco's autonomy initiative provides the only reasonable political compromise to meet those requirements." Holley said broad autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty has the backing of three successive US Administrations and many on the UN Security Council. "It is time this support was demonstrated in actions as well as words," he said.
Holley also urged international targeted aid programs to help meet the social and economic aspirations of the people of the Sahara underlying the recent protests in Laayoune, Morocco. "The violent unrest earlier this week highlights rising tensions in the region, which are partly a consequence of the lack of serious efforts by key parties on the Security Council to actively promote the realistic solution they claim to support. The murderous violence perpetrated by pro-Polisario supporters who tried to hijack what was essentially a social protest having nothing to do with Polisario political aims, was the latest in a growing number of violent provocations designed to derail prospects for a compromise solution," Holley continued. "The small group of pro-Polisario supporters in Morocco seem to be taking their lead from the repeated Polisario threats to return to war rather than reach a political compromise that would serve the region and its people's best interests."
Holley said the agreement to resume UN family visits for refugees was a positive step. Earlier this fall, the Polisario blocked a UN family visit flight and later jailed Sahrawi leader Mustapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud on his return from a UN family visit in September, further complicating efforts to reunite Saharawi families by silencing those within the refugee camps who want to speak out for a peaceful compromise solution.
Currently, the family visits have a wait list of 17,000 refugees. Most must wait years to visit family members in southern Morocco, despite the fact that their freedom of movement is guaranteed by international law. Holley said opening a "road home" from the Tindouf camps in Algeria into Morocco would enable many more refugees to visit their relatives, and added that Algeria should allow all refugees the choice to return home.
International experts are also concerned the Western Sahara conflict is creating an obstacle to regional security efforts and an opening for encroaching terrorist groups, including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
"From a humanitarian and security perspective," said Holley, "the clock is ticking for the region and its international partners. The unresolved Western Sahara conflict continues to block regional security cooperation, giving AQIM and other extremist groups new inroads for terrorism and trafficking. The region needs to find common ground to meet these new challenges, or risk sharing an unfortunate common fate."
Source: Moroccan American Center for Policy
