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Abstract

The Sahrawi ethnic conflict in Western Sahara has been ongoing for decades. Although various international efforts have been made to resolve it peacefully, they have not yielded results. This study focuses on the construction of a sand wall by Morocco and the involvement of international actors in the Western Sahara conflict. It explores the legal implications of Morocco’s construction of the sand wall, the role of international actors, the causes of the UN’s failure in achieving a peaceful resolution, and the impact of the conflict on the younger generation of Western Sahara. This research uses qualitative methods and primarily employs the theory of Realism according to Jack Donnelly to analyze the security dilemmas and power dynamics underlying the conflict. The findings show that the legal implications of Morocco’s sand wall construction strengthen its claims to the disputed territory but also trigger human rights violations and threaten regional stability. The involvement of international actors reveals the complexity of geopolitics, where the support of major powers for Morocco prolongs the conflict. The UN’s failure is due to technical disagreements over the referendum and the strategic interests of major powers. This conflict has had a serious impact on the younger generation of Sahrawis, especially in terms of limited access to education, the economy, and mobility. This discussion is relevant to encourage a peaceful settlement as soon as possible for the sake of regional stability.

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