Day 11
Western Sahara
The conflict between Western Sahara and Morocco has been a forgotten conflict for a long time. This conflict led to extremism and the continuous increase in crimes and prevented economic growth in the region. It has worsened the stability in the country. There is a possibility that the Russian war on Ukraine and other recent events could create openings to advance long-stalled Western Sahara peace efforts. The U.S. is exploring this new opening to end the crisis. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has given new leverage to Morocco’s rival, Algeria, which backs the Polisario Front in its battle for Western Sahara’s independence. Pray for the people who have longed for peace and stability for a long time to understand that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning and great is His faithfulness(The Bible, Lamentations 3:22-23).
Source:
https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/04/ukraine-war-puts-new-focus-conflict-western-sahara
Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. It has been a disputed territory since 1975. Morocco controls 80% of the land, while the remaining 20% is controlled by the Polisario, an independence movement established in 1973, and the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Presently, camps run by the Cuban-backed Polisario Front exist in southern Algeria, where thousands of indigenous Sahrawi people are sequestered and treated inhumanely. Public beatings are common and young children are taken from their families and sent to Cuba for re-education.
