Polisario Front Renews War in Western SaharaJoseph HammondThe United States should pay careful attention to the brewing conflict in the Sahara which if left unchecked could contribute to destabilizing forces across North Africa and the Sahel. In contrast, the United States has largely been distracted by the 2020 presidential campaign. The deterioration in the status quo between Morocco and Polisario in the Western Sahara deserves greater attention because decisive action now may be able to preserve a ceasefire which has largely held since 1991. Sadly, the conflict in Western Sahara also has deep roots dating to the 1970s. It may also open opportunities for narco-traffickers who are increasingly using the Western Sahara as a transit area to increase their activities.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 22, 2020 01:30 UTC