Stories about Western Sahara
Maghreb: UN Western Sahara Envoy Holds Talks with Polisario
Yesterday, Christopher Ross, the UN Special Envoy to the disputed Western Sahara, arrived in Algeria to hold talks with the Polisario Front, according to AFP. Jillian York rounds up blogger reactions from the Maghreb region on this latest development.
Global: Morocco Closes Caracas Embassy
Morocco announced this week that it would close its embassy in Venezuela due to Venezuela's recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the territory also known as the "Western Sahara," over which Morocco asserts its sovereignty.
Recent Developments in Western Sahara
Writing on One Hump or Two?, Will Sommer updates us on recent developments in Western Sahara.
Western Sahara: Student Reported Detained
Saharawi-students.org reports that a Saharawi law student has been detained in Tan Tan. The student was released after 10 hours.
Western Sahara: Cubarawis
Many saharaui children, thanks to international cooperation with Cuba, travel each year to study until they graduate from university. Then, they return to work for their Western Sahara. The Caribbean is completely different from the desert, not only because of geography, but also because of the nature of the people themselves. Cubans have rhythm in their veins and are dancing all the time. Beduins are sober, quiet and reflective. However, in the end, the exchange is worthy in both ways, as Renata Avila explains.
Western Sahara: Controversy Over McDonald's Maps
The Moroccan McDonald's franchise faced controversy last week after it released a children's “Happy Meal” toy which included a map of Morocco. The borders on the map separated Western Sahara from Morocco; the Western Sahara is a disputed territory between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. The controversy ended with...
Western Sahara: Trouble with McDonald's
Nick Brooks of Sand and Dust reports that McDonald's recently came under fire in Morocco for not including the Western Sahara on its maps of the country. The fast food giant caved to pressure. Brooks shares his opinion.
Western Sahara: Educational Success
Western Sahara Echo remarks upon the success of the educational system in Western Sahara,
Moroccans for Obama?
"When the Americans are getting ready to elect a president, the whole world holds its breath," writes Moroccon blogger, Robin des Blogs [Fr]. It's a sentiment held by many around the world, but some Moroccon netizens aren't sure which outcome--an Obama or a McCain presidency--would be best for Morocco.
Western Sahara: Summer is Over for Sahrawi Children
Traveling abroad to spend summer with a family in Spain, meeting movie stars like Javier Bardem, sharing special moments with volunteers who give them new school materials, summer is officially over for Sahrawi children, who are back in school, where they are learning valuable lessons about hope and a better tomorrow, writes Renata Avila.
Western Sahara: Goodbye Peter Van Walsum
Western Sahara Info reports that the mandate of Peter Van Walsum, personal envoy of the UN secretary-general for Western Sahara, has not been renewed.
Arabeyes: Mauritanian President Ousted in Military Coup d'état
Army commanders ousted Mauritania's first freely elected president in two decades, President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, in a military coup d'état Wednesday after political feuding over the firing of the country's four top generals. Jillian York sums up the reactions of bloggers in neighbouring Arab countries.
Western Sahara: A Tribute to a Hero
Occidental - Sada Assahra al -Gharbiya [ar] has posted a poem entitled “Another Poem from the Occupied Territory: My Hero!”
Western Sahara: Three Cups of Tea
As with many cultures, people in Western Sahara have developed rites and a social scene around tea and we can imagine the desert, a cloudless sky at night, a full moon and a cup of tea (or two, or three)! Renata Avila makes us do just that in this translation of Spanish Sahrawi blogs.
Western Sahara: Eljahoub temporary released
Saharawi-Students provides an update about the trial of Maliha Eljahoub, a Saharawi law student and human rights activist arrested for “criminal charges” in Agadir on July 24. Eljahoub's trial is scheduled for August 13 in Marrakesh. He is currently on temporary release.
Western Sahara: Introducing the Sahrawi Blogosphere
On July 5, Global Voices started its coverage of the Sahrawi blogosphere. Jillian York looks at Sahrawi blogs in English this week.
Western Sahara: Poetry and Spanish – The Permanent Links
For some cultures, it is food, for others it is music, and many cultures show their character in their architecture. For Western Sahara, one of their cultural characteristics is the oral tradition, and poetry is meaningful for Sahrawis.
Western Sahara: A new Sahrawi satellite TV station
This will be our first attempt to cover the Sahrawi blogsphere. I, alongside Jillian York and Renata Avila will try to shed light on what the Sahrawi bloggers are saying each week, in Arabic, English and Spanish. The topic of Western Sahara is one of a very complex background, and emotions tend to run high whenever it is under discussion. We will try to cover the Sahrawi side with as much objectivity as it is humanly possible.
