Chapter Five

Summary and Conclusion

The Western Sahara question emerged on the attainment of independence by Spain in 1975 69.

Nigeria relation with S.A.D.R was equally in existence after this period. However, the relations

between these two states took a different dimension in 2000 70. This was an implementation of the

act of recognition which Nigeria and the rest of Africa accorded them prior to that hence, it is

safe to state that the relations have made remarkable achievements as well as suffer even major

setbacks.

However, the struggle has not fizzled out but remained sustained so as to continuously ensure

that there is renewed hope in the eventual achievement of the ultimate goal which is the

achievement of a state status. Nigeria has been the major aligning force that had continually

ensured a sustained tempo at least in ensuring that the Western Sahara question reaches a

logically conclusion.

The mobilization by Nigeria of other countries has ensured that Nigeria and S.A.D.R are not the

only one involved in struggle to achieved independent status. Other states have had their

attention drawn to the Western Sahara course71. Hence, they have made contribution on how to

adequately resolve the impasse.

The diplomatic activities between Nigeria and the S.A.D.R witnessed a lot of engagements on all

fronts. These engagements were ranging between political, economic, cultural and educational as

well. These engagements were able to happen simply because the two countries seems to have a

lot that resonates most especially from the part of history. Hence, it became quite easy to get

69
U. Ladan “The Spanish Colonisation of Western Sahara, 1884 – 1975” A paper presented at the International Conference Organized by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Abuja, June 2015 p2
70
K. Fadel “Western Sahara”; Africa’s Last Colony; The Decolonisation Process” Macquarie University, Sydney , 2000
71
Decision Assembly / AU/Dec 598 (xxvi), Assembly of the Union, Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session, 30 – 31 January 2016, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
along in the pursuance of the desired goal of the achievement of statehood. These similarities can

be said to be the reason why even the challenges of these issue even though they abound cannot

be seen to be strong enough to put down the zeal to achieve this goal. These similarities have

ensured that existing interest among the two nation are of a shared and common nature72.

It is quite glaring that the hope of success in this task lies in the show of collectivism among

faithful believers of independent statehood for all nations. This would overwhelm the resolve of

the kingdom of Morocco to continue hold on to the Western Sahara territory on a illegal basis.

This is even though Morocco has never at any point in time agreed that their claim to the

ownership of the territory was illegal. In fact, they even try to provide what they term “valid

evidence” to their ownership of the territory73.

Thus, the position of Nigeria on the issue in which they stand with the people of Western Sahara

is not borne out to sheer sentiment but from the balanced view of both side evidences of claims

to the territory. Hence, the instrument of the provision of the needed evidence is simply the gift

of history. This will help to rightly judge whose claim may be true or false as the case may be.

Thus, the invasion of the Western Sahara by Morocco in what was termed the Green March in

1975 is in itself a violation of their sovereign as they had just achieved independence from their

former colonial master, Spain.

The regional / international bodies as well as the super powers may have said much about the

impasse but have not successfully done much in this regards. This could be because of the fact

that France (one of the super powers) is not real in support of the claims by Western Sahara. It is

pertinent to note that by the laws of the security council of the United Nations Organizations,

they really cannot reach any decision if the permanent members of the security council cannot

72
A draft Comminique of the Nigerian Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS)
73
T. Hodges “Western Sahara: The Roots of a Desert War” Connecticut: Lawrence and Co Publishers, 1983
achieve a unanimous decision. Therefore, as far as France remains part of the big five, it means

the United Nations Organizations cannot do much about the situation. One the part of the AU

(African Union) and EU (European Union), the complex challenges of insecurity, migration

issues, political and economic instability are a bedeviling factor that may be reducing their

impact on this issue. This is knowing fully well that Morocco is strategically positioned at the

border between the continents of Africa and Europe were illegal migration and arms proliferation

is seriously on the rise74.

This is why the strengthening of relations had always with Nigeria by the S.A.D.R had always

been the way to go at least to guarantee a sustained course for freedom. This is in spite of the fact

that even Nigeria also struggles with her challenges which has weakened her resolve both as a

government and as a people.

74
Resolution of the European Parliament on Western Sahara, RC/408127EN, March 2000
Conclusion

The struggle for freedom by the government and people of Western Sahara had been that which

can be seen to have been of back and forth. This is mainly because the majority of the global

stakeholders have not been passionate enough to resolve this lingering issue 75. It is viewed this

way because each time this strong resolve is made, results are achieved. For instance, one would

wonder why a super power in the United states and their N.A.T.O (North Atlantic Treaty

Organization) allies were quick to go to Syria (2015) and even Libya (2010), but kept mute about

the Western Sahara issue in which Morocco is culpable. If we even go back further into history,

the United States stood up against Iraq over Kuwait in the early 1990s over the same offence of

illegal invasion of another territory just like Morocco did76.

However, the few gains that may have been recorded so far cannot be mentioned without the

influence of Nigeria and the African Union77. This is because the Nigerian government mobilizes

the other African countries against Morocco for this course. This is why the reputable of

Morocco over the years have waned compared to how they were in the 1960s, 70s and even in

the 80s to some extent. Even the attempt of Morocco to buy over some African nations to their

side has yielded little results. This is mainly all due to the activities of Nigeria.

More so, Nigeria has been active even when the government depending on the leader at the time

shrinks. The various critical institutions within the Nigerian states have not slacked in ensuring

that the struggle does not go down78. Hence, this fight by Nigeria is mainly driven by the

academia, civil society groups, public service etc within Nigeria making sure the fight is pursued

to a logical conclusion.

75
R. Peter, Baehr “The United Nations at the end of the 1999s” 1999
76
J.B Weiner” The Green March in Historical Perspective
77
Decision Assembly / AU/ Dec 598 (xxvi), Assembly of the Union, Twenty-Sixth Ordinary Session, 30 – 31 January 2016, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
78
A Draft communiqué of the Nigerian Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS)