Western Sahara: why Algeria supports the Sahrawi’s right to govern themselves

Department of Research, Studies and International News 28-08-202

Western Sahara is a disputed territory in north-west Africa. It lies south of Morocco, north-east of Mauritania, and west of Algeria. It was formerly known as Spanish Sahara, until Spain’s withdrawal in 1975. The region has since been claimed primarily by Morocco and by the Polisario Front, an independence movement supported by Algeria.

French president Emmanuel Macron officially  endorsed Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan for Western Sahara in a 2024 letter sent to King Mohammed VI. He saw it as a viable solution to a conflict that has lasted nearly 50 years. The plan proposes that Western Sahara be given a high degree of self-governance, but under Moroccan sovereignty.

In protest against this decision, the Algerian government recalled its ambassador to Paris .

Since then several other countries, including the US, the UK Ghana and  Portugal, have also expressed their support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This diplomatic realignment marks a significant boost to Morocco’s international standing, while further straining relations with Algeria.

Morocco regerds Western Sahara  as an integral part of its national territory. The Polisario Front, representing the Sahrawi people of the region, advocates for a referendum on self-determination and independence. This dispute reflects deep rooted regional geoplitical tensions, competing strategic interests, and the enduring aspiration of the Sahrawi people for autonomy.

Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front raises numerous questions about its underlying motivations. It’s an issue that continues to fuel debate and  academic research

I am a PhD student specialising in diplomacy and international cooperation. In a recent article , I analysed Algeria’s strategic behaviour in response to regional crises, particularly those involving Spain and Morocco.

In this article, I examine the reasons behind Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence in Western Sahara.So, for Algeria, support of the Polisario Front can also be explained by a desire to maintain its regional and international influence and to stand firm against external threats.

As a result, Algiers firmly maintains its position on the Sahrawi issue. It is unwavering on the issue, based on principles it considers fundamental for the region and beyond. These include the right to self-determination, respect for borders inherited from colonisation, support for the right of peoples to resist occupation, and respect for international law and multilateralism.