Identity Under Construction

One of the longest running territorial conflicts rages on in Western Sahara and yet remains largely invisible. Deciphering landscape and urban planning is a way to comprehend how colonialism operates in this desert.

« The occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own population into the territories it occupies » (Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49).

Western Sahara is the last remaining colony in Africa.

Formerly a Spanish colony, it is bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria and was illegally annexed by Morocco in 1975.

The UN regularly points to the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. Despite this reminder, a status quo prevails, allowing the Morrocan occupation to intensify day by day.

Using ‘fait accompli’ tactics, Morocco has demarcated a territory, defending it with a 2500km long wall. The occupation of this land is an effort to render the right of the Sahrawi people to a referendum of self-determination obsolete.

Moroccan strategy involves militarization of the desert, exploitation of ressources, town planning, settlement campaigns for Moroccans and the wiping out of Sahrawi culture.

Morrocan constructions in the desert are the tangible form of this territorial conflict which has been dragging on since 1975.