Western Sahara

How the European Union's protectionism is hurting developing economies

EU lobbies are protecting unsustainable industries at the expense of free trade and poverty alleviation.

Geopolitics may isolate Morocco in the Arab world

A meeting between the monarchs of Morocco and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh should have cooled tempers between the two governments for the moment but it will be the Libya crisis which could re-ignite them.

Who needs enemies when you have friends like MBS?

Morocco's spat with Saudi Arabia has been on the cards for a long time, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman can't afford for Rabat to distance itself from the Saudi kingdom.

Is Morocco’s exit from Yemen war the beginning of Saudi's isolation?

The Moroccan foreign ministry hinted at a possible withdrawal of its troops from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, causing tensions between the two kingdoms.

After six years, Western Sahara talks begin with “ice-breaker” meeting

The UN has finally managed to bring Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the region's separatist group Polisario to the negotiating table, hoping to make some progress on the four-decade-long dispute.

Bullied Syrian child should be a wake-up call for refugee host countries

The story of Syrian refugee, Jamal, and his sister's, horrific bullying in a British school playground hit a global nerve. Unfortunately, he's just one of many children at risk.

Morocco seeks to settle issues with Algeria via direct talks

As Morocco’s king offers to hold direct talks with Algeria, we take a look at the issues that keep the two countries at odds — contentious border issues dating back to French colonisation and the territory of Western Sahara.

Has the Saudi-Iran rivalry reached the Western Sahara region?

Morocco has announced it is cutting ties with Iran, accusing Tehran of weaponising the Polisario Front, an independence movement that has clashed with Rabat for ​Western Sahara for the past four decades.

Morocco to sever ties with Iran over weapons to separatists

The move comes as Morocco accuses Iran of supplying weapons to the separatist Polisario Front that is fighting for the independence of the Western Sahara.

Timeline: A brief history of the Western Sahara

Morocco, one of Africa's largest economies, was admitted into the African Union (AU) this month, 33 years after it first quit the organisation. And all because of the Western Sahara.

Morocco rejoins African Union after 33 years

The nation had left after the bloc recognised Western Sahara as a sovereign territory in 1984.

Morocco to rejoin AU, offers autonomy to disputed territory

Morocco left the African Union in 1984 over the territorial dispute for the Western Sahara region, but now it seeks readmission.