In fifty years of the struggles and victories of the Polisario Front (+ photos)

Sergio Rodríguez Gelfenstein*, contributor to Prensa Latina

The Polisario Front, which was founded in 1973 by Mostafa El Sayed along with other Sahrawi youth, gave continuation to the struggles waged since the 1960s by the Sahara Liberation Movement led by Mohamed Sidi Brahim Bassir. Its goal – from the first moment of its existence – was to achieve the independence of Western Sahara. Their struggle, which lasted half a century, made it possible to consolidate national unity and build the Sahrawi identity. However, despite all the successes that have been achieved, the Sahrawi people have not been able to gain complete and absolute independence.

The Polisario Front is being created within the framework of the struggle for the independence of the African peoples against colonialism and imperialism. In the same way, this event is not immune from the great social and political conquests achieved by the struggle of workers, women and youth in different regions of the planet. Since then, their struggle has been recorded in the history of the battles against colonialism and in favor of democracy.

Jenin folk party

At the beginning of 1973, there were multiple meetings between groups that demonstrated in favor of independence for Western Sahara. In the early months of that year, these associations moved towards agreements for greater understanding and coordination of actions against colonialism. At the end of April, a conference was held intermittently and in different places in the desert to mislead Spanish intelligence. At these sessions, it was decided to create a politico-military organization that would fight for independence. Thus, the Polisario Front was born on May 10, 1973 in Zouerate (Mauritania).

Ten days later, the Frente POLISARIO attacked the Ginkgo police station, starting a war of liberation against colonialism that gradually expanded the size and area of ​​its actions, causing an increase in casualties among the Spanish army as well as the prestige of the Frente POLISARIO. And his liberation army grew in the mood and spirit of the Sahrawi people, who also began to receive international support, especially from Algeria and Libya.

maneuvers of the defeated colonial power

The strong armed blows received by the Spanish occupation army indicated the fairness of the fighting it fought. Under these conditions, the imaginary Franco dictatorship began to look for an “honorable way out” of the situation. To this extent – with the typical attitude of the colonial powers – Spain undertook the task of creating an “independent” indigenous government that would function under the control of Madrid.

On August 20, 1974, the Spanish government sent a memorandum to the Secretary-General of the United Nations announcing its intention to hold a referendum for self-determination in Western Sahara during the first half of 1975. At the same time, it encouraged the formation of an honest political party. A party of Spain’s interests called the Sahrawi National Union (PUNS).

During 1975, the SALF was strengthened by incorporating several military units that increased their firepower and maneuverability to the point of proposing large-scale operations such as taking control of Spanish military positions while striking at their forces and rear.

After two and a half years of war, the Polisario Front culminated its political-military efforts by holding the National Unity Conference, on October 12, 1975, in the town of Ain Ben Tilly. By then, however, Spain had reached a secret agreement with Morocco to hand over the Saharan lands in what is considered one of the greatest betrayals in colonial history.

New impetus for the liberation struggle

Faced with this situation, the Frente POLISARIO convened a broad meeting attended by personalities from all the political forces in favor of independence: representatives of the various sectors and members of the Jamaa, which is the main body of the tribe and is composed of elders and elected leaders. In this context, under the leadership of Mostafa Sayed, they declared the people’s union around the program and structures of the Polisario Front, with the aim of achieving independence and defending the territorial integrity of Western Sahara.

The long-term struggle of the Polisario Front against the Moroccan occupation made it possible to lay the foundations for building a future-oriented society and state based on ideas that reflect the best of the human condition and basic principles. coexistence in the world. In these years, the Polisario Front managed to build a unified and inclusive Sahrawi society. For this, it brings together all sectors and progressive personalities of Sahrawi society, wherever they are: in exile, in liberated areas, or those under Moroccan occupation.

50 years after its creation, the Polisario Front has renewed its commitment to those who fell in decades of struggle against Moroccan colonialism and expansion. In addition to proposing to achieve independence, his goals have always been to build a modern state in the context of North African regional integration. On the international level, the Polisario Front advocates the establishment of a Palestinian state, the unity of the Arab world, and the elimination of all forms of colonialism in Africa.

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* Certificate in International Studies, MA in International and Global Relations. PhD in Political Studies.

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