While the normal rule for disputes between neighbors is for them to lose their passion after a period of time and to find an amicable solution in the end, a few have shown a tendency to become a bitter quarrel. Of course, when that happens, the ones who pay the price are not the leaders who ratcheted up the rhetoric, but ordinary citizens.
The conflict between Algeria and Morocco is a case in point. The two continue to be locked in a prolonged conflict over the Western Sahara, which next year will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its feeble independence.
After all these years, I wish the Spanish had not withdrawn from the region and the Western Sahara had remained its colony until today. This is because we have proven we can never act responsibly. What is the point of liberating a land from foreign occupation if what follows is a fraternal war over that piece of land?
As if this were not tragic enough, comes in South Africa, adding one more complication. The manner in which it entered the arena shocked many in the Arab world. That country, which we all love and respect, took a hand in the conflict by taking a surprise stand that lacked any logic — recognizing the Saharan Republic.
I wonder if the president of South Africa knows the name of the capital of that republic, its leader or the color of its flag. How can he know all this when even the Arabs, who are most concerned with the case, know nothing about it? What made the South Africans add fuel to the Saharan fire? No one can make any sense of it rushing to recognize a republic that has not won recognition from either the Arab League or the United Nations. Even in the region, it is yet to be accepted as a political entity in the sense that no regional organization has taken it as a member.
Considering South Africa’s stature in the continent, it should have played a reconciliatory role, not a divisive one, between the two conflicting parties. It should have sought to use its political clout and good reputation to resolve the conflict in a manner that would allow all the parties to find an end to the tragedy and not to inflame the situation by recognizing a non-existent republic. There is wide room for proposing solutions that would satisfy the conflicting parties, give the Polisario, (Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro) some sort of administrative independence and the Sahara region a federal status and end the conflict between Morocco and Algeria.
The secret behind the prolonged Saharan crisis lies in the continued conflict between the two neighboring states. Algeria has armed, built camps and provided logistical and political support to what it considers a Saharan liberation front and Morocco, in turn, has constantly sought to arm itself and treat Algeria as a permanent adversary. Following three decades of conflict all that the two countries have gained is colossal losses: Thousands of killed, unknown number of prisoners and billions of dollars spent on arms and military operations. The lost effort and resources could have been used to rebuild the Sahara and develop its resources.
The war in the Western Sahara is the most meaningless conflict in the world. In our region it means only one thing; simmering differences.
South Africa’s unwise action betrayed a failure to think through its long-term consequences and the realities of our world. There is no country in the world that does not have a secessionist movement. Recognizing them will not solve the problem for the world. On the contrary, what it will do is open a Pandora box that will start wars all over the world.
If our brothers in South Africa are not aware why the majority of Arabs don’t want a Sahara republic, we urge them to look at the map of the conflicts in our region and what the secessionist movements have done. Look at what happened in Southern Sudan over the past 20 years and what is happening right now in Darfur and in Iraq.
We hope South Africa will work to bring countries together and not make them drift apart, work to reconcile Morocco and Algeria and not open a wound that was about to heal.
