Is There a Place for the Polisario Front in Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Sahara?
There is growing concern about the future of the Polisario Front, its members, supporters, and their families in the socio-political restructuring of the Sahara following the implementation of the advanced autonomy proposal by King Mohammed VI.
This self-government model, whose broad outlines are already known and debated, envisions a role for the Sahrawi independence movement in the region’s future: its leaders, cadres, fighters, and the population under its control in the Tindouf refugee camps (southwest Algeria).
The issue is already on the table, and various solutions are being discussed.
Morocco facilitated a meeting between a commission of experts led by Dr. Mohamed Zahraoui, Professor of Constitutional Law and Political Science at the University of El Jadida, and the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy, headed by Dr. Abdelfatah Alba Laamchi.
Morocco aims to go beyond slogans and to offer a concrete plan that considers the interests of the conflicting states (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania) as well as those of the Sahrawi actors, including the Polisario Front.
The initial meeting led to a document titled: The Future of the Polisario After the End of the Conflict, addressing several key points.
First, it examines the fate of Polisario leaders, emphasizing the need to treat them equally regardless of their stance on autonomy. It also highlights the possible rivalry between local Sahrawi elites and Polisario leaders for roles in the planned regional parliament and autonomous government.
In this context, the monarchy is seen as a guarantor of balance, acting as a neutral and unifying force.
On the issue of armed fighters, the report stresses the importance of international support, especially from the UN Security Council. The abandonment of weapons is a prerequisite for successful autonomy, and integrating the armed structure of the Polisario could be one of the process’s most difficult tasks—though Morocco has historical experience with similar integrations.
The third issue concerns dismantling the political structure of the Polisario, a complex organization with decades of bureaucracy and influence. International guarantees will be needed to help Morocco reintegrate Sahrawi elites involved in the conflict.
Finally, the report looks at the fate of Tindouf camp residents. The issue is complex due to internal societal divisions. The autonomy plan should not prioritize any group, and reintegration must address tribal and ethnic complexities and the challenges of returning generations born in exile.
Morocco is thus preparing an inclusive, democratic roadmap aiming to finally resolve a long-standing, low-intensity conflict that has deeply affected a proud and hopeful population.
