Inside the secret US-led talks to solve the Western Sahara conflict

Inside the secret US-led talks to solve the Western Sahara conflict

Since last autumn, the United States has increased its push to end the protracted dispute between Morocco and Western Sahara independence advocates, organizing three clandestine meetings that reunited the main parties for the first time in years.

However, diplomatic sources from Middle East Eye indicate that the endeavor is more complex than anticipated. As in Gaza, between Armenia and Azerbaijan, or Thailand and Cambodia, President Trump aims to position himself as a mediator in African disputes.

The White House seeks a resolution that pleases Morocco while maintaining Algeria’s standing as a crucial ally of the Polisario Front, the armed group fighting for Western Sahara’s independence since 1973. In the past month, three ministerial-level talks have taken place, yet progress remains elusive.

Origins and Stalemate

The Western Sahara dispute began over five decades ago following Spain’s departure from its final African territory in 1975. The UN has classified the area as a non-self-governing territory. After a 1991 truce, 80% of the territory is under Moroccan control, with the remaining portion held by the Polisario Front.

Spanning 266,000 square kilometers, the desert region is sparsely inhabited. Approximately 600,000 residents are Moroccans, many serving as soldiers, while the indigenous Sahrawi population is less than 50,000. Around 165,000 Sahrawi refugees reside in camps along Algeria’s border.

The standoff between Morocco and the Polisario Front has persisted for decades, with referendum plans for independence, backed by the UN and activists,