This statement highlights a profound truth about poverty: it is not merely about the lack of material wealth, but also about the loss of one’s sense of belonging and identity. This is particularly evident in refugee camps, where individuals are stripped of their homes, cultures, and social networks, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and despair. The Tindouf camps, established in 1975, are a stark example of this phenomenon.

This wall, known as the “Wall of Separation,” is a physical manifestation of the ongoing conflict between Morocco and the Sahrawi people. The Sahrawi people, who are indigenous to Western Sahara, have been fighting for their right to self-determination since the 1970s. They have been subjected to human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, and forced displacement.

When the agreement became effective, the Polisario Front, born in 1973 to fight the Spanish colonizer, waged war against Morocco and Mauritania, proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and created refugees camps in Algeria to host Sahrawis who escaped persecution by the occupying armies. In 1979 Mauritania withdrew but Morocco (with the support of France and the United States) continued the war against Polisario (supported by Algeria). Hostilities were prolonged until 1991, when the parties agreed a ceasefire overseen by the UN, which organized a mission (MINURSO) to monitor the situation and organize a referendum on Sahrawi self-determination. But the referendum never took place, due to irreconcilable differences between the parties as to who had the right to vote. The UN continued renewing the MINURSO mandate annually, without any progress.

The territory is divided into two main parts: the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the Moroccan-controlled territory. The SADR is a self-declared state, recognized by only a handful of countries, while the Moroccan-controlled territory is a disputed territory with a complex history. The SADR claims to be a sovereign state, with its own government, military, and currency.

Polisario, recognized by the UN as the representative of the people of Western Sahara, is determined to get a referendum on self-determination. International law supports this, so the front is immovable. “We are not asking for anything strange—it is written in all UN resolutions and in the International Court of Justice,” said Mohamed Yumani, a member of Polisario and president of the Saharan Immigrant Association in Aragon (Spain). On the other side, Morocco has always claimed—despite the UN’s contradiction—to have held sovereignty over Western Sahara before the Spanish colonization and it attaches complete validity to the Madrid Accords, as “duly registered at the UN’s Secretariat General”. It accuses Polisario of blocking negotiations and having a “biased” understanding of self-determination, which it says need not necessarily be exercised through referendum—although this was already what the UN had called for in 1966. Morocco proposed an autonomy plan in 2007 but it is not in hurry to find a solution.

This wall effectively isolates the Sahrawi people from the rest of the world. The Moroccan government has been actively involved in the development of the territory, investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. This has led to a significant improvement in the living standards of the Sahrawi people.

The area is sparsely populated and lacks infrastructure. The Polisario Front, a Saharan rebel group, has been fighting for independence from Morocco since 1973. The conflict has resulted in a stalemate, with neither side achieving a decisive victory.

**Moroccan Government’s Approach to Social Services vs.

This is a stark contrast to the Moroccan government’s approach to its own citizens. In Morocco, the government has a strong track record of providing social services and infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas. However, the government’s approach to political freedom is significantly different from that of the Western Sahara. The Moroccan government’s approach to political freedom is characterized by a strong emphasis on national unity and stability.

A. The Monroe Doctrine: A Legacy of US Self-Interest in Foreign Policy
B.

This statement reflects a broader trend in US foreign policy, where the US often prioritizes its own interests over international law and norms. The US has a long history of prioritizing its own interests over international law, dating back to the Monroe Doctrine in the 19th century. The Monroe Doctrine, which asserted that European powers should not interfere in the affairs of the Americas, was a clear example of the US prioritizing its own interests over international law.

* Spain’s role in the Western Sahara conflict. * The question of whether a solution is possible. * Spain’s inaction and its implications. **Detailed Text:**

The Western Sahara conflict, a protracted territorial dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), has ignited a complex web of international relations, raising questions about the viability of a lasting peace solution.

This risk of instability favours the status quo, as a 2007 cable involving European diplomats published by Wikileaks indicates: “For Europe as a whole, the principal interest is that Morocco has been an island of stability in a crucial but shaky near neighbourhood; this stability must be preserved, so a solution to the Sahara problem that destabilizes Morocco proper is undesirable.” Last April, the MINURSO mandate was extended for one year more without any relevant change. In August, the Canadian Kim Bolduc was supposed to replace Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber as head of MINURSO but at time of writing she had not been able to travel to her post—Morocco was apparently displeased that it had not been consulted about the appointment.

For Torrejón the stagnation can be also dangerous because the situation may deteriorate further: “There is not a solution on the table, the humanitarian conditions in the refugees camps are getting worse and tension between the parts in the territory controlled by Morocco has increased.” Meanwhile, said Bárbulo, young people in the camps wanted to go to war because they had seen how their parents lived “and they don’t want to live like them”. Joining a war without prospect of victory makes no sense but the perspective is different in the camps: the emotions play a bigger role there and refugees have lost faith in the international community. “Young people don’t want to bear more and, even if we don’t arrive until the end, at least we will teach something to Morocco,” said Yumani.

And Dellal takes the long view: “Who thought that apartheid was going to end in South Africa?”