Morocco on Friday commemorated the 51st anniversary of the Green March, the 1975 mobilization that paved the way for its control over most of the disputed Western Sahara territory. The commemoration occurs as the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the region, MINURSO, prepares to wind down after its mandate expired on October 31.
Laayoune, the largest city in Morocco-controlled Western Sahara, displayed signs of the anniversary, with pro-Morocco Sahrawis gathering in a central square alongside diplomats from allied Arab and African nations. Public spaces featured Moroccan flags and portraits of King Mohammed VI, while police maintained a visible presence.
For supporters of Moroccan rule, the Green March is celebrated as a "national epic" that led to the "liberation of our southern provinces." Schoolchildren are taught about the event, and it is a recurring theme in public ceremonies.
However, for Sahrawis advocating for independence, the anniversary signifies the beginning of Morocco's occupation and the displacement of thousands. Decades of separation have divided families, with some living in Morocco-controlled cities and others in refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria. The UN mission previously facilitated family visits, but these were suspended in 2014.
Morocco welcomes the end of the UN mandate, citing increasing support from allies like the United States and France for its proposal of autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria and Russia, continues to advocate for independence through a referendum and has expressed regret over the mission's non-renewal.
Western Sahara, a territory rich in fisheries and phosphate deposits, has been the site of Africa's longest-running territorial conflict. The UN mission, established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and organize a referendum on the territory's future, never saw the referendum take place, and the ceasefire eventually collapsed. Morocco consolidated control over most of the territory, creating a berm dividing it from areas controlled by the Polisario Front.
Despite investments in infrastructure and development projects by Morocco, residents in Laayoune continue to face everyday economic challenges, including the cost of living and job access.