Sahara: drums of war

On the other hand, their leaders are not only failing to offer viable solutions, but are festering tempers to return to a warlike situation that would hinder the progress that Morocco's proposal for broad autonomy is making in international opinion. 

A few days ago, one of the most symbolic leaders of the Polisario Front, Bachir Mustafa Sayed, in statements made before many inhabitants in a town in the camps to explain the results of a meeting of the Polisario Secretariat and broadcast on YouTube, called for attacks in the main towns of the Sahara, especially Smara and Dakhla, to spread terror among the occupiers of the territory. 

He said: "Let each of them convince three and go out to attack, because if they achieve a lot with little and from the outside, those who were inside will achieve more. And if they need means and weapons, he will provide them". 

The Polisario knows perfectly well that its passion is unsustainable inside and outside the camps, and that is why they return to the only situation that is in their interest, to maintain an open conflict, which means that they will continue to receive support from those who do not understand, because they do not know the real situation, or who manifestly show hatred for the Moroccan positions for various reasons. 

The Polisario returns to the initial position of attacks on people, which affected Spaniards and especially Canarian Spaniards, who have never received apologies or compensation for this. 

We in the Canary Islands are not fully aware of what a situation of attacks and instability on the opposite shore would mean for our tourist economy and for delaying cooperation between the Canary Islands and southern Morocco, which could be so beneficial in the near future. 

There is, I believe, a coordinated coincidence between Bachir Mustafa Sayeb's threats and those made from the Canary Islands by some sectors to hinder relations with our Moroccan neighbour, as evidenced by the opposition to the Tarfaya-Fuerteventura maritime line, or to the existing air links. 

It is not true that an independent Sahara would be the best thing for the Canary Islands; on the contrary, it would be the worst possible scenario, while an autonomous Sahara within the Kingdom of Morocco would mean the opportunity for the Sahara to regain for the Canary Islands the importance it had in the past. 

Rafael Esparza Machín, expert on the Maghreb.