Border Wall (Western Sahara)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The sand wall of Western Sahara is an approximately 2,700 km-long defensive structure, running through Western Sahara and the southeastern portion of Morocco. It acts as a separation barrier between the Moroccan-controlled areas and the rump Polisario-controlled section of the territory that lies along its eastern and southern border.
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[edit] Terminology
The structure goes by a variety of names, with Moroccan Wall and The Berm being often used. Moroccan authorities prefer the latter. Sympathisers of the Western Saharan refugees, Western Sahara's independence, or of the Polisario call it the "Wall of Shame".
[edit] Physical structure
The fortifications lie in uninhabited or very sparsely inhabited territory. They consist of sand and stone walls or berms about three meters in height, with bunkers, fences and landmines throughout. Military bases, artillery posts and airfields dot the interior behind the wall at regular intervals, and radar masts and other electronic surveillance equipment scan the areas in front of it.
In all, six lines of berms have been constructed [1]. The main ("external") line of fortifications extends for about 2,500 km. It runs east from Guerguerat on the coast in the extreme south of Western Sahara near the Mauritanian town of Nouadhibou, closely paralelling the Mauritanian border for about 200 km, before turning northwards beyond Techla. It then runs generally north-eastward, leaving Guelta Zemmur, Smara, and Hamza in Moroccan-held territory, before turning east and again closely following the Algerian border as it approaches Morocco. A section extends about 200 km into south-eastern Morocco [2][3]
Significant lines of fortifications also lie deep within the Moroccan-controlled area [4]. Their exact number and location are a source of some confusion for overseas commentaries [5][6].
All major settlements, the capital Laayoune, and the phosphate mine at Bou Craa lie far on the Moroccan held side.
The fortifications were progressively built by Moroccan forces staring in 1981, and formally ending on 16 April 1987 [1]. Its main function was to exclude the guerrilla fighters of the Polisario Front, who have sought Western Saharan independence since before Spain ended its colonial occupation in 1975, from the Moroccan-controlled part of the territory.
[edit] Consequences
Effectively, after the completion of the wall, Morocco has controlled the bulk of Western Sahara territory that lies to the north and west of it. The Polisario-founded Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claims control of the mostly uninhabited "Free Zone", which comprises all areas to the east of the barrier. Units from the United Nations mission MINURSO separate the two sides.
Many of Western Sahara's native Sahrawi people live as refugees in camps in the Tindouf province of Algeria, where the Polisario is based.
[edit] International reaction
Western attention to the border wall, and to the Morocco annexation of the Western Sahara in general, has been minimal, apart from in Spain. Once a year, a small demonstration is held against the barrier by a few human rights activists, many of them Italian. [citation needed]
In Africa, the annexation of Western Sahara by Morocco has attracted somewhat more attention: Algeria supports the Polisario "in its long-running desert war to oppose Moroccan control of the disputed area;"[citation needed] The Organization of African Unity/African Union and United Nations have proposed negotiated solutions.
[edit] See also
[edit] References and Notes
- ^ a b Milestones of the conflict, page 2. Website of the United Nations MINURSO mission.
- ^ United Nations Map No. 3691 Rev. 53 United Nations, October 2006 (Colour), Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Cartographic Section. Depicts the deployment of the MINURSO mission, as well as the Wall location.
- ^ See also e.g. this satellite montage at Google Maps for a section of the wall in Moroccan territory. The northernmost fort that is clearly distinguishable can be seen here. (Google Maps, as of 30 November 2006)
- ^ For example, a sand berm with fortifications much like on the main external line can be seen here, reaching the coast near Imlili, over 200 km north of the main external berm along the southern border. (Google Maps, as of 30 November 2006)
- ^ Western Sahara Online website, Moroccan Wall of Shame (author and date unknown)
- ^ (in Dutch) Marokkaanse veiligheidsmuur al twee decennia onomstreden, CIDI Israel website, Nieuwsbrief (2004)
[edit] External links
- Map of Western Sahara, with the location of the wall marked Produced by the United Nations, showing the deployment of the MINURSO mission as of October 2006,. Map No. 3691 Rev. 53 United Nations, October 2006 (Colour), Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Cartographic Section
- Landmine Monitor, LM Report 2006, Morocco [ http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/morocco.html ]
- Landmine Monitor, LM Report 2006, Western Sahara [ http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/western_sahara.html ]
- Landmine Monitor, LM Report 2006, Algeria [ http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/algeria ]
- online slideshow created by the United Nations MINURSO mission. Includes an aerial photograph of the barrier on slide 11.
[edit] Satellite views
(Google Maps)
- fence with accumulated sand
- wall with fort
- wall smothered by dune with fort nearby
- wall smothered by dune with fort
- road cut by fence
- sand piled up high on the wall
- 5th wall with inhabited mesa
- disused fort on 5th wall
- abandoned fort and section of 5th wall
- sand piled up high on the wall
- end of the road in the south with compound and fort
- wall going over an abandoned fort
- in mountainous terrain
- forts in the south
- fort and wall
