Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Mauritania’s recent decision to decline an invitation from the Polisario Front to participate in a Geneva conference marks yet another blow to the separatist group’s dwindling international support.
The conference, titled “From Occupation to Self-Determination: A Comparison Between Western Sahara and Palestine,” took place on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council but was noticeably ignored by Mauritania.
This snub signals a significant shift in regional dynamics and underscores Mauritania’s increasingly close ties with Morocco, despite its historical recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
The refusal is not an isolated incident. Earlier in June, Mauritania also skipped another Polisario-led event in Beirut, further distancing itself from the separatist group.
Under President Mohamed Cheikh Ould El Ghazouani, Mauritania has shifted its diplomatic approach, prioritizing relations with Morocco.
This strategic move is a clear rejection of the Polisario’s attempts to tie the Western Sahara conflict to the Palestinian cause, a tactic that has largely failed to resonate with the international community.
Mauritania’s stance is not only symbolic but reflects a broader regional trend. The country’s absence at a key African Union defense meeting in Algiers last November—where the Polisario participated—illustrates its intention to sideline the group, despite having recognized the self-styled Democratic Arab Republic (SADR) in 1984.
On the international stage, the Polisario’s isolation is deepening. China’s decision to exclude the Polisario from the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing is yet another clear indicator of the group’s declining influence.
Despite Algeria’s persistent lobbying for the Polisario’s inclusion, China remained firm in its stance, reaffirming its alignment with Morocco on the Western Sahara issue.
Algeria, the Polisario’s staunchest supporter, had gone as far as orchestrating a meeting between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and the Chinese ambassador in an attempt to push for the group’s participation in the FOCAC summit.
Failed attempts to link Western Sahara with Palestine
For years, the Polisario has sought to connect its separatist cause with the Palestinian struggle, hoping to gain sympathy and support from the international community.
The most recent Geneva conference aimed to draw parallels between the two conflicts, but Mauritania’s deliberate absence reveals the failure of this approach.
Many countries, including Mauritania, see through the Polisario’s attempts to exploit the Palestinian issue for its own gains.
Reports from various international organizations have exposed the Polisario’s involvement in corruption, the militarization of children, and the mismanagement of humanitarian aid, further damaging its standing.
These revelations have eroded the Polisario’s credibility, making it difficult for the group to secure the international backing it once hoped to achieve.
Morocco’s rising diplomatic strength
While the Polisario faces mounting isolation, Morocco’s diplomatic influence continues to grow. The countryhas garnered significant support from key international players, including the United States, Spain, and France, all of which have backed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only viable solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
Spain’s shift in 2022, when it formally recognized Morocco’s plan as “the most serious, realistic, and credible” option, was a game-changer in the region.
The opening of 29 consulates in Western Sahara by various countries, including 17 in Dakhla alone, further solidifies Morocco’s position on the ground.
China’s decision to exclude the Polisario from key international summits reflects the growing consensus that Morocco’s plan offers the best path to peace and stability in the region.
This recent Mauritania’s refusal to attend Polisario-led events and its alignment with Morocco signal a calculated diplomatic shift. By distancing itself from the separatist movement, Mauritania has effectively recognized that the Polisario’s narrative is increasingly untenable on the international stage.
The country’s efforts to maintain strong ties with Morocco, despite its historic recognition of the SADR, underscore a broader regional realignment that isolates the Polisario and bolsters Morocco’s case for sovereignty over Western Sahara.
