Algeria and Zimbabwe Reaffirm Support for Sahrawi Self-Determination Amid Regional Realignments

Khoshnaw Rahmani, Jadetimes Staff

K. Rahmani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering politics.

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Image Source: Michele Benericetti

1. A United Front in Algiers

On July 20, 2025, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa convened in Algiers for the 4th Algeria–Zimbabwe Joint Commission, where they jointly reaffirmed their “unwavering support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.” Their declaration, delivered at a high-profile press conference, underscores both nations’ commitment to decolonization and signals a renewed pan-African push for a UN-backed referendum in Western Sahara2.

2. Pre-Colonial Roots and Spanish Annexation

Long before European powers arrived, semi-nomadic Sahrawi tribes—of mixed Amazigh and Arab heritage—roamed the coastal deserts between modern Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. In 1884, Spain formalized control over this region at the Berlin Conference, establishing Spanish Sahara. Although Spanish rule was initially limited to coastal outposts, the discovery of phosphate deposits in 1947 and the settlement of colonial administrators intensified Madrid’s grip, provoking early indigenous resistance movements.

3. Emergence of the Polisario Front and SADR

In 1973, frustrated by the failure of peaceful petitions, Sahrawi students and tribal figures founded the Polisario Front (Frente POLISARIO) to press for full independence. Two years later, under the Madrid Accords, Spain ceded administrative control to Morocco and Mauritania—ignoring Sahrawi aspirations—and thousands fled into Algeria’s Tindouf desert refugee camps. On February 27, 1976, the Polisario proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in exile, backed by Algeria’s diplomatic, logistical, and military support.

4. UN-Mediated Ceasefire and the Stalled Referendum

After nearly two decades of war, Morocco and the Polisario Front agreed to a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991, establishing MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) to monitor peace and organize a self-determination referendum. Disputes over voter eligibility, coupled with Morocco’s insistence on autonomy rather than independence, have kept the vote in limbo for over 30 years—making Western Sahara the longest unresolved decolonization case on the UN agenda.

5. Humanitarian Toll: Life in the Tindouf Camps

Approximately 170,000 Sahrawi refugees reside in five camps near Tindouf, Algeria. Generations born in exile face:

• Reliance on international aid for food, water, and medicine

• Limited educational and economic opportunities

• Harsh desert conditions and water scarcity

Despite EU humanitarian contributions of over €300 million since 1993, chronic under-funding and political stagnation perpetuate hardship.

6. Zimbabwe’s Decades-Long Solidarity

6.1 Early Recognition and Diplomatic Backing

Zimbabwe was among the first African states to recognize the SADR immediately after its 1976 proclamation. Since independence in 1980, every Harare government has:

• Maintained full diplomatic relations and hosted SADR envoys

• Voted in support of Western Sahara’s decolonization in African Union (AU) sessions

• Opposed Morocco’s 2017 readmission to the AU until SADR membership was affirmed

6.2 SADC Leadership and Regional Advocacy

As SADC Chair in August 2024, President Mnangagwa hosted a Sahrawi delegation in Harare and presided over a landmark MoU between SADC and the SADR, committing the bloc to:

• Implement AU resolutions on Western Sahara

• Advocate for UN-led referenda

• Mobilize diplomatic pressure on Morocco

In March 2025, Mnangagwa declared, “Africa’s independence would not be complete until Western Sahara is free and independent,” reinforcing SADC’s unwavering position.

6.3 2025 Letter to President Ghali

On June 9, 2025, Mnangagwa sent a personal letter to Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali, reaffirming “unconditional support” for the referendum and pledging to deepen political, trade, and cultural ties between Zimbabwe and the SADR.

7. Algeria’s Role: Host, Protector, and Diplomat

Algeria remains the SADR’s primary patron:

• Host Nation: Provides land, security, and infrastructure for Tindouf camps

• Diplomatic Champion: Leads Algeria’s UN and Arab League campaigns for referendum

• Military Ally: Supplies and trains Polisario forces, sustaining their defense capability

Algeria’s stance represents both anti-colonial solidarity and strategic rivalry with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara.

8. Pan-African Solidarity: Comparative Overview

African Body	SADR Recognition	Key Actions
African Union	Full (since 1984)	AU Constitutive Act safeguards decolonization; Morocco rejoined 2017
SADC	Full	2024 MoU operationalizes AU decisions; hosts SADR officials
Zimbabwe	Full	Diplomatic recognition (1976), AU votes, high-level outreach
South Africa	Full	Legal challenges (ICJ 2018), UN advocacy, embassy in Tindouf
Nigeria	Mixed	Early recognition, later suspended; cautious balancing act
Egypt	None	Maintains neutrality to preserve ties with both Rabat & Algiers

Zimbabwe’s consistent championing of the SADR parallels South Africa’s liberation-era advocacy and stands in stark contrast to Nigeria’s oscillation and Egypt’s strategic neutrality.

9. Geopolitical Shifts: Morocco, Western Powers, and the Sahara Question

Since the 2020 US recognition of Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara—linked to the Abraham Accords with Israel—Rabat has secured Western support, particularly from France and Spain. Algeria and Zimbabwe’s joint statement counters this pro-Morocco tilt, calling for:

• A UN-led referendum as the sole legitimate path to self-determination

• Respect for UNGA Resolutions 1514 (1960) and 34/37 (1979) on non-self-governing territories

• An end to external vetoes that block genuine decolonization

10. Timeline: Milestones in the Sahrawi Struggle & Zimbabwean Support

Year	Event
1884	Berlin Conference grants Spain protectorate over Rio de Oro & Saguia el-Hamra
1973	Polisario Front formed
1975	Madrid Accords; mass Sahrawi exodus to Algeria begins
1976	SADR proclaimed; Zimbabwe extends recognition
1979	Mauritania withdraws; Morocco annexes southern third
1984	SADR admitted to OAU; Morocco exits
1991	UN ceasefire; MINURSO deployed
2017	Morocco rejoins AU; Zimbabwe opposes re-admission until SADR status upheld
2018	ICJ Advisory Opinion reaffirms Sahrawi right to self-determination
2024	Mnangagwa hosts SADR officials & signs SADC MoU in Harare
2025	Algeria–Zimbabwe summit reaffirms unconditional support (July 20, 2025)

11. Implications & Next Steps

• Diplomatic Pressure: This joint declaration amplifies calls for UN Secretary-General António Guterres to rejuvenate MINURSO’s mandate and organize the referendum.

• Regional Cohesion: Reinforcing Africa’s decolonization agenda strengthens AU and SADC bargaining power on other liberation issues, such as Eritrea–Ethiopia peace processes.

• Humanitarian Advocacy: The spotlight on Tindouf may mobilize fresh humanitarian aid and educational programs for Sahrawi youth.

• Morocco’s Response: Rabat is likely to intensify diplomatic outreach in West Africa and the Gulf; Algeria and Zimbabwe must coordinate further to counterbalance these efforts.

12. African Agency and the Path to Justice

Algeria and Zimbabwe’s reaffirmation of Sahrawi self-determination is both a moral stand and a strategic assertion of African agency in an era of shifting global alliances. By deepening diplomatic ties and amplifying pan-African solidarity, Harare and Algiers aim to break a decades-long impasse and deliver on the promise of a fair referendum. As the world watches, their united front may finally tip the scales toward a just resolution for the Sahrawi people—completing Africa’s decolonization journey and restoring faith in multilateralism.