Algeria Suspends Friendship Treaty With Spain Over Western Sahara Dispute

DW: Algeria suspends friendship treaty with Spain amid Western Sahara tensions 

Algeria said its decision was due to Spain's "unjustifiable turnaround" over the Western Sahara region. Earlier this year, Spain recognized Morocco's plans for the disputed territory, sparking tensions with Algeria. 

Algeria has suspended its 20-year-old cooperation treaty with Spain, the country's presidency announced Wednesday. 

The decision came after Madrid reversed its long-standing policy of neutrality on the Western Sahara conflict in March by backing Morocco's position.  

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Algeria Suspends Friendship Treaty With Spain Over Western Sahara Dispute  

Algeria suspends Spain treaty, bars imports over Western Sahara -- Reuters  

Algeria suspends Spain co-operation treaty over Western Sahara dispute -- France 24  

Algeria suspends trade ties with Spain over Western Sahara row -- Al Jazeera  

Algeria Scraps Treaty With Spain Over Madrid’s Western Sahara Policy -- National Interest  

Explainer-What Does a Diplomatic Row Mean for Spain's Algerian Energy Supplies? -- Reuters

The Ceasefire Between Morocco And The Polisario Front Is Over. War Looms For The Western Sahara

 

France 24: Western Sahara: war looms in Africa's contested desert land 

Disputed and divided Western Sahara -- where a 29-year ceasefire ended Friday -- is a former Spanish colony mostly under Morocco's control. 

An Algerian-backed independence movement -- which holds a fifth of the territory -- has campaigned for a vote on self-determination through decades of war and deadlock. 

The ceasefire collapsed after Morocco said Friday that it had sent troops into no man's land to reopen a road to neighboring Mauritania. 

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WNU Editor: Morocco has a drone fleet that I am sure it will start to use against Polisario Front fighters .... Morocco’s military said to receive 3 Israeli reconnaissance drones (Times of Israel). 

 More News On The End Of The Ceasefire Between Morocco And The Polisario Front 

Western Sahara independence leader declares the end of a 29-year-old ceasefire with Morocco -- CNN 

Traffic resumes at truck stop that sparked Western Sahara tensions -- Middle East Eye 

Morocco Forces Clash With Western Sahara Fighters, Risking Wider War -- WSJ 

Polisario Mobilises Armed Forces Against Morocco -- Africa News 

Western Sahara independence group declares war on Morocco -- Axios

Western Sahara’s Polisario Front Group Accuses Morocco Of Breaking The Ceasefire And ' Ignit A War'

Reuters: Fears grow of new Western Sahara war between Morocco and Polisario Front 

RABAT/ALGIERS (Reuters) - The Western Sahara’s Polisario Front group said on Friday that Morocco had broken their ceasefire and “ignited war”, but Rabat denied there had been any armed clashes between the sides and said the three-decade truce remained in place. 

The Polisario representative in Europe, Oubi Bechraya, told Reuters there had been military confrontations with the exchange of fire on Friday, adding “we have declared a return to the armed struggle”. 

However, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bouriti denied there were clashes, saying the army had only fired warning shots. “Morocco is committed to the ceasefire,” he told Reuters.  

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More News On The Growing Tensions In Western Sahara 

Polisario Front threatens to end Morocco ceasefire -- Middle East Monitor  

Morocco sends troops to Western Sahara border to end Polisario 'provocations' -- France 24  

Ceasefire declared over as Morocco launches Western Sahara military operation -- Middle East Eye 

Western Sahara: Polisario threatens to end ceasefire after Morocco 'provocation' -- Africa News  

Morocco troops launch operation in Western Sahara border zone -- Al Jazeera

Fallout From Morocco's Raid On A Western Sahara Camp Continues

UN Security Council 'Deplores' Western Sahara Violence -- Voice Of America

The U.N. Security Council has deplored last week's deadly clashes in Western Sahara, but has not said it will agree to a request from the pro-independence Polisario Front for a U.N. investigation into the violence.

The 15-member Security Council had private briefings Tuesday from the U.N.'s department on peacekeeping and the Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross.

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More News On The Western Sahara

Morocco gives Spain 'commitment' over W.Sahara raid -- AFP
Violence in W.Sahara raises concerns on EU fish pact -- Reuters
Morocco backs police who raided Western Sahara camp, says they acted peacefully -- Canadian Press
U.N. asked to investigate violence in Western Sahara -- Washington Post
Western Sahara conflict flares again as refugee camp is broken up -- The Guardian
Morocco accuses W.Sahara activists of killing police -- Reuters
Rebels demand inquiry into camp raid -- News24

Western Sahara - Morocco Conflict Stalls Peace Talks

Deadly Clashes Stall Western Sahara-Morocco Peace Talks -- The Guardian

Deadlock continues after Morocco's violent crackdown on Polisario protesters.

It's a long way from the dusty western Saharan city of Laayoune to Manhasset in leafy New York state, but these very different places were linked this week by a flare-up of violence and a new round of slow-moving international diplomacy.

Exactly what happened in the desert territory remains in dispute between the Saharan independence movement, Polisario, and the Moroccan government, fighting for the past 35 years over one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.

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More News On The Western Sahara

Spain presses Morocco over Western Sahara deaths -- BBC
Spain seeks urgent explanation of Morocco raid in W.Sahara -- Expatica
Zapatero promises help to Western Sahara -- The Reader
Polisario claims dozens killed in W.Sahara raid -- AFP
Morocco sends troops to W. Sahara as protests turn deadly -- World Tribune
Spain presses Morocco to let foreign media cover unrest in Western Sahara -- Canadian Press
Western Sahara clashes threaten UN talks between Morocco, separatists -- Christian Science Monitor
SA: Western Saharan deaths deplorable -- Mail & Guardian

Clashes In Disputed Western Sahara Continue

Moroccan forces dismantle a camp housing refugees in the Western Sahara, near Laayoune, on November 8, 2010.

Deadly Clashes Reported In Disputed Western Sahara -- CNN

(CNN) -- Deadly clashes erupted this week between Moroccan forces and local rebels in Western Sahara -- a long-disputed region of northwestern Africa.

The violence coincided with a round of talks -- informally backed by the United Nations -- between Morocco and representatives of Polisario Front, the region's independence movement.

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More News On The Western Sahara

Western Sahara clashes threaten UN talks between Morocco, separatists -- Christian Science Monitor
UN: Western Sahara Talks Stall Amid New Clashes -- Voice of America
No breakthrough on Western Sahara talks -- Euronews
Western Sahara: Parties to UN-Backed Talks Agree to Meet Again Next Month -- allAfrica.com
Tensions in Western Sahara -- Al Jazeera
Police patrol Western Sahara city after clashes -- Defence Web
US policy and Western Sahara: the other side -- Carne Ross, Foreign Policy

Moroccan Forces Disperse Protest Camp In Western Sahara

Deaths In Western Sahara Camp Raid -- Al Jazeera

Raid by Moroccan forces on a Western Sahara protest camp leaves four dead and scores injured, on the eve of peace talks.

At least four people have been killed and 70 injured in a raid by Moroccan forces on a protest camp in the disputed region of Western Sahara, sources on both rival sides have said.

The Gdaim Izik camp, which houses 12,000 Saharawi refugess, had sprung up outside Laayoune, the main town in Western Sahara, four weeks ago, in protest against the deterioration of living conditions in the area.

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More News On The Conflict In Western Sahara

Independence movement: new clashes in capital of Western Sahara a day after deadly riots -- Canadian Press/AP
Polisario says 11 die in clashes; Morocco denies -- Reuters
Violence marks start of Western Sahara talks -- Euronews
5 Moroccan Troops, 1 Civilian Killed In W. Sahara -- NPR/AP
Deadly clashes as Morocco breaks up Western Sahara camp -- BBC
Morocco Raids Protest Camp in Territory Under Dispute -- New York Times

Western Sahara Protests Turn Violent Jeopardizing Peace Talks

'Two Dead' As Morocco Breaks Up Western Sahara Camp -- BBC

Two officials were killed and dozens injured as Moroccan security forces broke up a protest camp in Western Sahara, say reports.

The camp, for several thousand people near the territory's capital, Laayoune, was the biggest protest against Moroccan rule in the 35-year dispute.

Officials said the fighting later spread to the streets of Laayoune.

The violence comes hours before talks are scheduled to begin in the US on the future of the disputed territory.

The Gadaym Izik camp was set up about a month ago outside Laayoune and houses more than 12,000 people.

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More News On Western Sahara Violence

W. Sahara-Morocco peace talks delayed after raid -- Yahoo News/AFP
W. Sahara-Morocco peace talks start despite raid -- Yahoo News/AFP
Western Sahara talks open under shadow of clashes -- Reuters
Two killed, 70 hurt in raid on W.Sahara camp -- AFP
Moroccan police dismantle W.Sahara camp -- AFP
Two Moroccans killed in Sahara camp-security source -- Reuters
Unrest in Western Sahara after raid on camp -- Yahoo News/Canadian Press
Assault / Western Sahara: Polisario accuses Rabat of sabotaging the negotiations -- Ennahar Online
FEATURE-Western Sahara protest camp tests Morocco's nerve -- Reuters
Q&A: Western Sahara clashes -- BBC
FACTBOX-Some facts about Western Sahara dispute -- Reuters

Western Sahara, Another Failed African State/Region?

Why The Western Sahara Matters -- Commentary Magazine

Most Americans know little or nothing about the conflict over the western Sahara or the self-styled “liberation” group the Polisario Front (originally backed by the former Soviet bloc). The Obama administration and Congress are focused on other problems in the Middle East. But the conflict that has ensnared Morocco, Algeria, and tens of thousands of Sahrawi (natives of the disputed territory) refugees warehoused in camps in Algeria poses a humanitarian crisis and creates another hotbed of terrorism and the narco-smuggling that accompanies it.

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My Comment: I remember following this conflict in the 70s-80s. After all of this time .... it is still a mess and nothing has changed.

Can the U.S. change what has been the constant state of affairs in this region for the past few decades .... hmmmm .... all the money in the world will have zero (if any) impact here.