On November 14, 1975, just six days before Franco’s death, it was signed the Madrid Agreementa Declaration of principles between Spain, Morocco and Mauritania in Western Sahara. With this gesture, Spanish administration over the region ended and Morocco’s immediate occupation of much of the territory began.
Today, 50 years after the Green March which led to a change of power, the Sahrawi people are still claiming their right to self-determination. The UN calls on territory as “awaiting decolonization” in historic General Assembly resolutions such as THE 34/37 and 35/19. Despite all attempts, the occupation persists and the question arises: what is Morocco’s real interest in Western Sahara?
A desert rich in resources
Oddly enough, “desert” is not the right word for everything found in the Sahara, because it is one of the richest regions in North Africa concerning key resources and rare earths. To give an example, in Bucraa there is one of the the largest phosphate reserves in the worldan essential mineral for fertilizers and, by extension, for global agriculture. Today, Morocco controls more than 70% of the world’s reserves, and the Sahara only strengthens its monopoly.
The possibility of existing hydrocarbons in the region The Moroccan government’s desire for occupation is also increasing. And although no oil or natural gas has been discovered, Western Sahara has the potential because of its potential. sedimentary basins, similar to those of neighboring countries such as Algeria or Mauritania. In fact, Morocco has already granted exploration permits in offshore blocks, such as the “Dakhla Atlantique”, to companies like the Israeli Petroleum Ratio.
The strategic situation of Western Sahara
Located in the northwest of Africa, along the Atlantic coast, Western Sahara occupies a privileged position between Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and America. Its coastline, more than a thousand kilometers long, is located next to one of the main maritime routes of the Eastern Atlanticthrough which a significant part of international trade circulates, notably hydrocarbons, raw materials and goods.
Morocco takes advantage of the Atlantic coast of Western Sahara to extract resources and facilitate trade in goods with European countries and Spain, France, Italy and Portugalas in African countries, notably Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal. In addition, the waters that bathe its coasts are part of one of the the richest fishing grounds in the world, thanks to the cold Canary Current, which promotes great marine biodiversity.
A historical statement
The theory of “Greater Morocco” is the main current of irredentism (the political attitude which favors the annexation of territories) and nationalism in the neighboring country. This concept is supported by conservative religious interpretations within the Sunni Islam and, on the other hand, pan-Arabismunderstood as the political project which pursues the unity of Arab peoples beyond the borders inherited from colonialism.
Within this framework, the aim would be to reclaim the supposed greatness of the ancient Muslim states which dominated large areas of North Africa. Among them stand out the Almohad Empire (12th-13th centuries) and the Benimerín Sultanate (13th-15th centuries). To do this, Western Sahara, all of Mauritania, western Algeria, northern Mali and IThe cities of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as other places of Spanish sovereignty.
About The Author
