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 the Moroccan franchise issuing an apology to the citizens of Morocco.
Although Moroccan bloggers were mute about the issue, the Western Saharan blogosphere and its friends commented on the story. Nick Brooks, whose blog Sand and Dust focuses primarily on the region, wrote of the apology:
I guess this is understandable – small considerations such as respect for international law and UN resolutions, and squeamishness about territorial aggression, occupation of neighbouring territories, and widespread human rights abuses obviously take a back seat when it comes to the important business of selling burgers and making lots of money.
Goufia, a diaspora blogger residing in Canada, calls for a boycott of McDonald's along with several other bloggers:
We learned from the press (01.12.08) that McDonalds Moroccan subsidiary has withdrawn some ‘Happy Meal’ toys including a map with the legally recognized borders between Western Sahara (WS) and Morocco, pretending to replace them with other toys with a map including WS inside Moroccan borders. This would mean a clear violation of International Law.As you are surely aware, WS is a Non-Self-Governing Territory as declared by the UN, militarily invaded and occupied by force by Morocco, whose sovereignty is recognized neither by UN nor by any country in the world. Morocco systematically violates human rights of Saharawi citizens, refusing to accept several UN resolutions and preventing their right to self-determination. This attitude of McDonalds Moroccan subsidiary discredits McDonalds image and reputation.We urge McDonalds to take the necessary actions to ensure that their Moroccan subsidiary respects and does not violate International Law on behalf of McDonalds…
French and Spanish text regarding the boycott can be found in the Sahara Resiste blog. A UN map of Morocco and Western Sahara can be found here.
26 comments
Nick, 200.000/165.000/155.000 are the figures propagated by Polisario Front supporters including Algeria. 90.000 will remain an estimation figure of the UNHCR based on satellite views. Algeria has never permitted a population census in the camps and will never do for some reasons you should know. Having said that, I also believe that an autonomy made by the Polisario Front would be well seen by the international community and should move the process forward. Let’s promote it to end the sufferings of people in Tindouf camps.
Ahmed Salem
Brahim, you said someone has to give up more. Autonomy in the Western Sahara region means that Morocco gives up some of the royal authority in the region. As Moroccan, you can imagine what it does mean. It’s a sorte of political revolution in Morocco. Morocco gives up the total integration of the Western Sahara region. Polisario Front must give up the independence claim to integrate a universal democratic world.
Ahmed Salem
Hi Ahmed,
Thanks for clarifying the estimated refugees in the camps. As I mentioned before the choices are limited. Polisario’s existence is dependent on having the conflict last forever. Algeria is using it for its political agenda. If they missed this opportunity, they have to come up with alternatives outside independence and war. Independence is unrealistic. Moroccans will defend their Sahara and die for it again if they have to. It is unfortunate to see people like Nick spread false hopes that one day The Saharwis pro Polisario will get everything they want. It is not as simple as he looks at it.
Some Sahrawis will always oppose any sort of integration but it is not something new as some Kabilies or Touaregs are against the authorities in Algeria. Some people from the Rif region were opposed to central government in Morocco as well. At the end, you just have to promote democracy, so everyone’s rights are respected within a united country.
This is my last comment on this site… Good Luck to you ..
Ahmed – we’re trading repetitions with the population estimates. You’ve said your piece and I’ve said mine, and anyone who’s interested can read both.
Brahim – the regions you talk about were not recognised, separate territorial entities prior to decolonisation, and were not invaded across a territorial boundary. But all people, including those in these regions, should have the right to self-determination if they want it.
You talk of democracy – does this mean you’re in favour of the Moroccan monarchy yielding power to an elected president or passing its powers to a parliament as has happened in the UK? There are measures of democracy but Morocco has a long way to go, given that it is illegal to insult the king. That sounds pretty absolute and undemocratic to me. As we say, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I love the way you equate respecting democracy with acceptance of an unelected centralised power. Delightfully orwellian.
The Moroccan plan is unworkable, because it does not address the status of the Polisario-controlled areas or the situation of the refugees. I very much doubt Morocco would welcome Polisario as a political movement, or many tens of thousands of independence minded Sahrawis. The result of the plan will be the maintenance of the status quo, the establishment of a rump Sahrawi state in the Polisario areas, or a Moroccan invasion of these areas precipitating regional conflict.
If a referendum is unrealistic (and I’m asking for a referendum, which may not yield a vote in favour of independence) it is only because people like you continuously say so. If there is enough support for a referendum, it will become realistic. So it is not a done deal. As a point of principle I think anyone whose mantra is “resistance is useless” should be resisted. To do otherwise is to give in to oppression and dictatorship. Morocco offers no hope for the Sahrawi living in exile, except the hope of permanent exile and assimilation into their host countries, with the loss of their culture and national identity. Of all people, you Moroccan nationalists should understand how dismal this prospect is.
I don’t believe this is your last comment – you keep saying so and then contradicting yourself. Perhaps your will is not as strong as you keep insisting….
Nick,
You said : “I don’t believe this is your last comment – you keep saying so and then contradicting yourself. Perhaps your will is not as strong as you keep insisting….”
If you are referring to me “Brahim”, I only mentioned it once. Show me the contradiction. Everything I wrote is still posted.
See you somewhere else on different topic..
Nick,
The Moroccan monarchy is working on that but before achieving this inevitable outcome Moroccan people need to be educated to increase the actual indicators related to literate people, health…. You talked about the consequences of insulting the king or burning a national flag (that’s mine), Morocco is a nation with laws as any other democratic country. Can someone insult the president of the US in the US? Can some insult the Queen of Great-Britain in UK?…You can’t be serious. It happens everywhere in the world.
You are pessimistic about the autonomy initiative. The plan is essentially made to ensure the return of people in good conditions. Well, some people (like you) forget that the other duty of the MINURSO was to guarantee the return of people living in the camps to their motherland. Morocco has never blocked the return process. About 6000 people returned to Morocco since 1976. Morocco is welcoming anyone who wants to integrate a democratic process under the Moroccan sovereignty. We, the sahraoui unionists, accepted the reconciliation made by Morocco in the context of the Equity and Reconciliation Committee work. We turned the dark page of the history of Morocco and now we want more development. Of course, some of the Polisario leaders will never return to Morocco for old running revenge but the majority will do if they are allowed to. You have no idea about what the population is willing so there is no place for speculation about their mind. For sure you would support independence if you were persecuted and totally controlled in camps with controlled and limited movement.
The referendum is unrealistic for the reasons I told you many times before. Morocco & Polisario Front/Algeria have never agreed on ID lists. Each one of them tried to impose its view on the eligibility to vote. Morocco accepted the first version of eligibility conditions but Polisario Front/Algeria refused it. Then Morocco refused the second version which was accepted by Polisario Front/Algeria. The referendum became a sort of blocking issue. In such case, Morocco took the initiative to propose a revolutionary autonomy plan to pass through the status quo. Autonomy means the king is losing some of its royal prerogatives in the region of Western Sahara. It was unbelievable a few years ago (Hassan II rule). Regarding the identity of the sahraouis, I know perfectly that the unionist sahraouis are as sahraouis as (some of) the one living in Tindouf South Algeria. They are promoting the culture of the region in the whole country. They have their own TV in Laayoune city (a real one and not propaganda). They are represented in an official institution (CORCAS) who is doing a very good job to promote the culture on Internet (http://www.sahara-culture.com). Frankly saying, I believe you don’t have a real background on the issue. You definitely ignore the political/economic/social influence of the unionist sahraouis in the Western Sahara region.
Ahmed Salem