Who should control Western Sahara?

ALMOST 50 YEARS have passed since Morocco claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara, a slice of land that stretches for 900km along the Atlantic coast to the country’s south. The Polisario Front—a resistance group backed by Algeria, Morocco’s long-standing rival, and representing the territory’s indigenous population, the Sahrawi—is still fighting for control. In 2020 a 29-year ceasefire broke down. On July 30th France called Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara the “only basis” to solve the conflict. Algeria withdrew its ambassador to France in response.