The UN Peace Plan

The UN's detailed peace plan was finally passed on April 29 1991 and a $200 million budget for the unprecedented operation was ratified on May 17 (resolution 690 -1991). The ceasefire and referendum is being supervised by a specially created UN force, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Despite Moroccan objections to the plan, MINURSO personnel began their work immediately. The five-stage peace plan is under way.

STAGE 1: June - 6th September 1991.

• Morocco and Polisario agreed upon a cease-fire which came into operation on 6th September 1991. Officials of MlNURSO's Identification Commission arrived in Western Sahara and updated the census taken by the Spanish administration before they left the colony in 1974. This census of 74,000 people forms the basis of the referendum voting list.

STAGE 2:

• MINURSO military and civilian establish their offices in Western Sahara. MINURSO will supervise the withdrawal of half of the Moroccan armed forces currently occupying Western Sahara, the remaining 65,000 troops will be restricted to designated areas. Armed POLISARIO units will establish bases in pre-arranged locations. Prisoners of war will be exchanged under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Identification Commission will verify and publish definitive voting lists.

STAGE 3: Under the supervision of MINURSO and UNHCR the 165,000 refugees who fled from the Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara in 1975 will be transported from their camps in the desert around Tindouf to safe locations inside Western Sahara. International observers will be invited to the territory to oversee campaigning and voting.

STAGE 4:

• Three weeks of campaigning are envisaged under rules which are currently being negotiated by the UN, Morocco and POLISARIO.

STAGE 5:

The referendum on self-determination will take place over several days. Saharawis registered will be asked to vote under MINURSO supervision:
Either for their legal independence Or full integration into the Kingdom of Morocco.

MINURSO

• MINURSO is a multinational force made up of contingents from 50 nations. It consists of 1700 troops, and 800 civil and police personnel and has a back-up staff of 300. All the members of the UN Security Council have contributed personnel to MINURSO. The overall cost of the operation is almost $200 mn, with an additional $34 mn earmarked for the repatriation of Saharawi refugees.

Problems With Implementing the UN Plan

Despite the confidence of the UN Secretary General that the peace plan and referendum can successfully bring an end to the conflict, numerous problems remain. Morocco is currently disputing the electoral register, claiming an additional 120,000 votors should be added. Morocco will not hand over the full administration of the territory to MINURSO and is retaining its extensive civil security forces within the territory during the referendum. Most worrying of all, Morocco is refusing to publicly consider the possibility of an independent Western Sahara and the UN has not said how it intends to ensure that the result of the referendum will be respected.