The Western Sahara Conflict: The Role of Natural Resources in Decolonization
Publisher: Current African
Author(s): Pedro Pinto Leite, Claes Olsson, Mangus Schöldtz, Toby Shelley, Pål Wrange, Hans Corell, Karin Scheele
Date: 2006
Topics: Conflict Causes, Extractive Resources, Renewable Resources
The Nordic Africa Institute arranged jointly with the Swedish Development Forum (FUF) and the Global Publications Foundation (Stiftelsen Global Kunskap) a seminar on “Western Saharan Natural Resources: Burden or Opportunity?” as part of our effort to shed light on little known or forgotten areas and conflicts in Africa. The question of self-determination has been central to the Western Sahara ever since the United Nations passed its Resolution on the territory in December 1966. In defiance of this and later Resolutions and pressures, not least from the African continent, Morocco invaded the territory and has governed it ever since. In analyzing why this territory, mainly covered by desert and only sparsely populated, has engaged so many local and international governments and people, this book based on the contributions made at the seminar, focuses on the resource endowment of the territory and its impact on the international community in general and Morocco in particular. There is no doubt that the question of the natural resources of Western Sahara such as fish, oil and phosphates has been the main reason for the interest in the area in question. As in so many places all over the globe the exploitation of natural resources including the job opportunities it creates for the occupiers makes states and people react selfishly and in conflict with international law.