The Polisario Front has pledged to confront what it calls Moroccan occupation and expansionism in Western Sahara<\/p>\n
Western Sahara\u2019s independence movement, the Polisario Front, has declared general mobilization over an alleged Moroccan military buildup, as UN peacekeepers withdraw from the disputed territory after 35 years.
\nThe Algeria-backed movement announced the decision following an emergency meeting chaired by its leader, Brahim Ghali, on Tuesday, according to a statement published by its official news agency, Sahara Press Service. Polisario accused Morocco of deploying troops, weapons, and equipment along the separation wall dividing the territory, and urged Sahrawis to prepare to defend their right to independence.
\nIn a post on its official Facebook page, the movement said the mobilization is intended to \u201cconfront the expansionist Moroccan occupier.\u201d Polisario described the deployments as a dangerous escalation and appealed to the UN and African Union to intervene.
\nMoroccan news outlet Maghreb Times reported on Monday that Moroccan forces have intensified movements of military convoys, equipment, and logistical supplies from the country\u2019s northern regions toward the south.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Decades-long UN mission ends as Russia criticizes US stance<\/p>\n
Morocco controls most of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony it annexed in 1975. The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and Polisario and organize a referendum on the territory\u2019s future. Disagreements over voter eligibility have prevented the vote.
\nMINURSO\u2019s mandate expired on October 31 after the UN Security Council failed to agree on its renewal. Russia vetoed a US proposal tying an extension to Morocco\u2019s plan for autonomy under its sovereignty in the sparsely populated territory. Moscow argued that the draft resolution prejudged sovereignty and undermined Sahrawi self-determination. Russia\u2019s alternative proposal to extend the existing mandate also failed to secure the council\u2019s support.
\nThe North African nation reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire following a royal meeting last week, saying the pledge would remain unchanged despite the UN mission\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
No man\u2019s land: Why this territory never became a country<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the territory in 2020 as part of a deal involving Rabat\u2019s normalization of relations with Israel. In July, Morocco named the 1,055 km Tiznit-Dakhla highway, which extends into Western Sahara, after Trump. The US president welcomed the gesture as a \u201cgreat honor.\u201d
\nAt Tuesday\u2019s UN General Assembly debate, US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Washington\u2019s approach, saying \u201ca referendum that can never be held serves no one.\u201d Russia\u2019s Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva countered that Washington\u2019s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty \u201ccannot be imposed on the Security Council.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0RT \/ RT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Polisario Front has pledged to confront what it calls Moroccan occupation and expansionism in Western Sahara Western Sahara\u2019s independence movement, the Polisario Front, has declared general mobilization over an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40992,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t