Western Sahara Conflict: UN Mission Stalled Amidst US-Russia Veto, Raising Fears of Renewed Fighting

One of Africa's most protracted conflicts, the dispute over the territory of Western Sahara, has simmered for over five decades, originating from the end of Spanish colonial rule. Both Morocco and the Polisario Front have laid claim to the region since its inception. In the 1990s, the United Nations initiated settlement efforts, establishing a peacekeeping mission in the area. However, these endeavors faced a significant setback last week when Russia and the United States jointly blocked proposals to extend the mission's mandate. This development raises critical questions about the potential for a resurgence of hostilities.

The discussion features insights from:
Samir Bennis – A political analyst and author of "The Self-Determination Delusion: How Activist Scholars and Journalists Have Hijacked the Western Sahara Case."
Irene Fernandez-Molina – A Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, and author of "Moroccan Foreign Policy under Mohammed VI, 1999-2014."
Mahjoub Mleiha – Advocacy head for the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA).