Western Sahara
Africa's Last Colony
The Saharawi liberation movement, known as the Polisario Front, fought the Moroccan army for 16 years, reclaiming a small section of their country. In response Morocco built a 1,000-mile long wall, heavily fortified and mined, which divides the Saharawi refugees from those who still live in the Occupied Territories.
In 1991 the United Nations brokered a ceasefire and agreed to organise a referendum in which the Saharawi people could vote on the future of Western Sahara. Yet 15 years later they are still waiting for the vote to take place.
Despite the International Court of Justice ruling that the Saharawi people have a right to self-determination, the political process has stalled. Morocco refuses to agree to a referendum plan, and Western powers have turned their backs on Western Sahara.
 |  | Western Sahara Homepage: Find out more about the people of the Western Sahara and their struggle to return to their homeland. |
 | | Take action: Tens of thousands of Saharawi people are living in a state of siege and face appalling human rights abuses and repression. Email David Miliband MP to take action |
