Self-determination And Natural Resources Flashcards
What is self determination?
The process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own government
Give a brief history of the governance of the Western Sahara
A Spanish colony since 1885
The process of decolonisation was halted by the Moroccan invasion
Now considered a non-self-governing territory and a referendum for self-determination is pending
What fuelled the conflict in Western Sahara?
It’s extensive natural resources
When did Spain withdraw from the territory?
In 1975, but they didn’t formally decolonise: according the the UN, they never legally teenager red sovereignty, so we’re still the administrating power of w Sahara
Who dismissed moroccos claim over the territory?
The International Court of Justice
What happened in October 1975
The first armed conflicts between Moroccan forces and the Polisario (the sahawari indigenous front) begun
What happened in November 1975
350,000 Moroccans walked into the territory and faced no Spanish resistance
How long was the conflict between Morocco, Mauritania, and the Polisario front?
1975-1988
What did the conflict lead to?
Approximately half the sahawari population were forced to migrate to the desert area resulting thousands of refugees in camps
1976: the sahawari Arab democratic republic, a refugee camp based ‘state-in-exile” was born
Who runs the refugee camps?
The Polisario and the SADR, but they are all at entirely dependent on humanitarian aid provided by international organisations
What is a non-self-governing territory?
A territory “whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government”
In 2014, w Sahara was listed by the UN as a non-self-governing territory
How is government organised in a non-self-governing territory?
And administrating power is called to:
- safeguard and guarantee the rights of the people to their natural resources
- ensure economic activities do not adversely affect the interests of the people
- and instead assist them in achieving their right to self-determination
What did the 1962 UN general assembly resolution affirm?
Permanent sovereignty over natural resources
What abundant resources does the Western Sahara have?
Phosphate
Fish
Oil
