Western Sahara: demonstration in Madrid in support of the Polisario Front

Demonstration in Madrid on March 26, 2022 against Spain's new position on the fate of Western Sahara.

REUTERS - JAVIER BARBANCHO

Text by: RFI Follow

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The demonstrators were 2,000, according to local authorities, in Madrid on Saturday to support Western Sahara and demand the right to self-determination for this territory which the United Nations considers "non-autonomous".

This event takes place a week after the reversal of the Spanish government, which aligned itself with the Moroccan position on this file.

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On the placards of the demonstrators, in the streets of Madrid on Saturday March 26, one could read slogans such as: " 

 ", or even " 

 ".

Sahrawi flags were also waved, as were flags of Podemos, a radical left Spanish party, yet an ally of the government in the ruling coalition in Spain.

The demonstrators protested against the statements of the Spanish Prime Minister a week ago.

Pedro Sanchez abruptly

 to support Morocco's autonomy plan for

.

Spain had previously displayed its neutrality on this issue since 1975, the date of its departure from this territory, which is therefore a former Spanish colony.

As a reminder, Western Sahara is a territory that the United Nations considers as "non-autonomous" around which oppose Morocco and the separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, who are asking for a referendum on self-determination.

Spain's reversal

ends a nearly year-long diplomatic spat with Morocco.

On the other hand, he strained relations with Algiers, which has since recalled its ambassador to Spain.

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• Africa

• Spain

• Morocco

• Western Sahara