An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/987359
An Cosantóir June 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | By COMDT ThOMAS BOUChIER, SIO MINURSO mission des Nations unies pour l'organisation d'un Référendum au Sahara occidental (MINURSO), known in English as the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sa- hara, was established in 1991 by UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 690 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted on 30th August 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popu- lar para la Liberación de Saguia el-Ham- ra y de Río de Oro (Frente Polisario). The settlement plan, as approved by the Security Council, provides for a tran- sitional period for the preparation of a ref- erendum in which the people of Western Sahara will choose between independence and integration with Morocco. MINURSO was originally mandated to monitor the ceasefire; verify the reduction of Moroccan troops in the territory; monitor the confine- ment of Moroccan and Frente Polisario troops to desig- nated locations; take steps with the parties to ensure the release of political prisoners or detainees; oversee the exchange of prisoners of war; repatriate refugees; identify and register qualified voters; organise and ensure a free and fair referendum; and reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance and mines. While the organisation of the referendum has not been possible to date, other requirements of the man- date have been pursued successfully, such as monitor- ing the ceasefire and reducing the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance. Western Sahara, on the north-west coast of Africa, is bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria. The people are a mixture of indigenous Berbers and Arab tribes whose direct ancestors can be traced back to the 15th century when tribes from Yemen crossed into North Africa and established themselves in the region. The difficult environmental conditions and rough terrain encouraged the different tribes to coexist and live togeth- er. Later, the acceptance of Islam by the Berbers and the increasing strength of Arab culture gave the tribal people predominantly Arabic characteristics. Traditionally, Saharans are essentially nomadic, pasturing livestock (camels and goats) in the sandy low-lying plains An Cosantóir June 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 |