Former US Senator Jim Inhofe, Longtime Polisario Supporter, Dies at 89

Marrakech – Former US Senator Jim Inhofe, a prominent figure in American politics known for his strong support of the Polisario Front, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the age of 89.

Inhofe suffered a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died in a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Throughout his 28-year tenure in the Senate, Inhofe was considered one of the most vocal advocates for the separatist Polisario Front.

He consistently used his influence to undermine the friendly relations between the United States and Morocco, often pushing for sanctions and arms embargoes against the North African nation.

Support for the Polisario Front repeatedly featured on Inhofe’s foreign policy agenda and in his actions over his nearly three decades in Congress.

In 2019, he led a group of US senators on a visit to the Tindouf camps in Algeria, where they were welcomed by Polisario leader Brahim Ghali. This visit raised questions about Inhofe’s persistent and determined engagement in favor of the separatists.

The senator’s opposition to Morocco’s territorial integrity was further highlighted by his attempts to exclude the country from the African Lion military exercises. He argued that Morocco had not shown seriousness in finding a solution to the Western Sahara dispute.

However, the Senate Defense Committee rejected his campaign; instead, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) emphasized Morocco’s importance in the success of the largest military exercise on the African continent.

Inhofe also played a significant role in delaying the signing of the tripartite agreement between the United States, Morocco, and Israel. He personally intervened with then-President Donald Trump, urging him not to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a crucial point in the agreement.

Even after the agreement was signed, Inhofe rallied 26 other senators to send a letter to President Joe Biden, demanding the withdrawal of Trump’s decision regarding the Moroccan Sahara.

Despite Inhofe’s tireless efforts, he ultimately failed to sway US policy in favor of the Polisario Front. The Biden administration maintained its predecessor’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, dealing a significant blow to the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists and their foreign sponsors.

Beyond his stance on the Western Sahara issue, Inhofe was known for his controversial views on climate change. As a prominent climate change skeptic, he once called it “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” He also supported military interventions as a means of conflict resolution.

With Inhofe’s passing, the Polisario Front has lost one of its most ardent supporters in the United States. His successor, Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, has expressed support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, signaling a potential shift in the state’s representation on the issue.