Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic


The foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic are conducted by the Polisario Front, which maintains a network of representation offices and embassies in foreign countries.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is the government in exile claiming sovereignty of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. The Polisario Front, the national liberation movement that administers the SADR, currently controls the area that it calls the Liberated Territories, a strip of Western Sahara territory east of the Moroccan Wall. It also administers the Sahrawi refugee camps at Tindouf, Algeria, where its headquarters are. It has conducted diplomatic relations with states and international organisations since its inception in 1973. In 1966, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 22/29 affirmed for the first time the Sahrawi right on self-determination. In 1979, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 34/37 reaffirmed again the right of the Western Sahara people to self-determination and independence, recognising also the Polisario Front as the representative of the Western Sahara people.

Recognition

. Of these, have "frozen" or "withdrawn" recognition for a number of reasons. Several states that do not recognise the Sahrawi Republic nonetheless recognize the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the population of the Western Sahara, but not as the government-in-exile for a sovereign state.
The republic has been a full member of the African Union, formerly the Organization of African Unity, since 1984. Morocco withdrew from the OAU in protest and remained the only African nation not within the AU between South Africa's admittance in 1994 and joining the African Union in 2017. The SADR also participates as guest on meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement or the New Asian–African Strategic Partnership, over Moroccan objections to SADR participation. On the other hand, upholding Moroccan "territorial integrity" is favoured by the Arab League.
Besides Algeria, Mexico, Iran, Venezuela, Vietnam, Nigeria, and South Africa, India was the major middle power to have ever recognised SADR and maintained full diplomatic relations, having allowed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to open an embassy in New Delhi in 1985. However, India "withdrew" its recognition in 2000.
As with any fluid political situation, diplomatic recognitions of either party's rights are subject to frequent and sometimes unannounced change.

Bilateral relations

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has, since its proclamation established diplomatic relations with a number of states, mainly in Africa and Latin America, which have recognised its independence. In connection with the "freezing", "withdrawing" and resuming of recognition, similar changes have occurred at the level of diplomatic relations. SADR has stable and developed relationships with states such as Algeria and South Africa.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is represented abroad by the Polisario Front, which maintains a network of missions and embassies. Some states that have recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic have elevated the Polisario representation in their country to the status of SADR embassy. The Polisario Front maintains also a network of representations on countries that do not recognized the SADR as a sovereign country, mainly in Europe, with some of them having relations with the host country governments. Representation of foreign countries to the SADR is performed by embassies located abroad, mainly in Algiers, due to the Western Sahara conflict and the settlement of the Sahrawi refugee camps in south-western Algeria. Strong support of Sahrawi cause from some countries is demonstrated by foreign delegation's visits in Liberated Territories of Western Sahara.

Current diplomatic relations

A total of 37 states presently maintain diplomatic relations with the SADR. Of these, 31 have continuously maintained relations with SADR without any interruptions. As of 6 August 2018, Botswana is the most recent nation to have formally established diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Seven states have frozen or canceled relations with the SADR in the past, but later resumed them. As of 7 January 2016, Panama is the most recent nation that reestablished diplomatic relations with SADR.
#StateRelations establishedSahrawi missionMission to Sahrawi RepublicNotes
1Embassy —AU, Arab League, OIC; Algeria–SADR relations
2YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident AU
3YesEmbassy, non-resident ——
4——AU
5——AU; Relations were frozen from 27 July 2007 to 6 February 2012 or shorter.
617 July 2007——AU
7Embassy Embassy, non-resident Cuba–SADR relations
8Embassy —East Timor–SADR relations
9YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident —
10Embassy, non-resident Embassy, non-resident Relations were cancelled from April 1997 to 6 June 2009 or shorter.
11YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident AU
12YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident AU
13Embassy, non-resident —OIC
14———
15Embassy —AU; Relations were frozen from 18 October 2006 to 6 February 2014 or shorter.
16Embassy, non-resident ——
17YesEmbassy, non-resident Embassy, non-resident AU
18Embassy, non-resident —AU; Relations are cancelled from 17 January 2014 to 23 November 2015.
19Embassy Embassy, non-resident Mexico–SADR relations
20YesEmbassy —AU, OIC
21YesEmbassy, non-resident Embassy, non-resident AU
22YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident Relations were frozen from 21 July 2000 to 12 January 2007.
23Embassy Embassy, non resident AU, OIC; Nigeria–SADR relations
24———
25Embassy —Relations were suspended from 20 November 2013 to 7 January 2016; Panama–SADR relations
26YesEmbassy, non resident —AU
27Yes——AU, OIC
28Embassy Embassy, non-resident AU; SADR–South Africa relations
29Embassy, non-resident —AU
30YesEmbassy —AU
31YesEmbassy Embassy, non-resident AU, OIC
32Embassy ——
33Embassy, non-resident ——
34Embassy Embassy, non-resident SADR–Venezuela relations
35—Embassy, non-resident —
36YesEmbassy, non-resident —AU; Relations were cancelled from 29 March 2011 to 21 November 2012.
37Embassy Embassy, non-resident AU

Former diplomatic relations

A total of 14 states or more maintained official diplomatic relations with the SADR in the past. Their relations with SADR are now suspended, frozen or cancelled. As of 12 March 2020, Liberia is the most recent nation to formally cancel diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
#StateRelations establishedFormer Sahrawi missionFormer mission to Sahrawi RepublicNotes
1YesEmbassy, non-resident —Relations were suspended on 20 January 2020.
2Yes——AU; Relations were frozen from 5 May 2006 to 16 June 2008, they are cancelled from 25 October 2010.
3Yes——Relations are frozen from 20 December 2000.
4YesEmbassy, non-resident —Relations are frozen from 22 April 2000.
5YesEmbassy —AU, OIC; Relations are cancelled from 30 March 2010.
6Embassy —Relations are cancelled from 2 October 2013.
71985Embassy Embassy, non-resident Relations are cancelled from 26 June 2000.
830 October 2012 or beforeEmbassy, non-resident—AU; Relations were suspended after Liberia opened a consulate in Dakhla, which is controlled by Morocco.
9YesEmbassy —AU; Relations are frozen from 6 April 2005.
10Embassy, non-resident Embassy, non-resident AU; Relations were cancelled from 27 December 2002 to 1 February 2008 and from 16 September 2008 to 6 March 2014 or shorter. They are cancelled again from 5 May 2017.
11Embassy, non-resident —Relations were frozen from 25 July 2000 to 12 August 2008, they are suspended from 3 January 2014.
12Embassy—Relations are frozen from 9 September 1996.
13Embassy, non-resident —Relations are frozen from 15 February 2013.
14YesEmbassy, non-resident —AU; Relations are cancelled from 17 March 2008.

Relations with international organisations

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic holds either 'member' or 'observer' status in several international organisations. It participates in the activities of organisations that have formalised its membership, as well as in activities of other organizations as a guest participant. The SADR is usually represented by a Government or national organisations such as the Sahrawi Trade Union.

International treaties and conventions

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has signed a number of international treaties, conventions, protocols and charters negotiated in the context of the African Union. SADR participates in protection of human rights, common defense or trade liberalisation by signature of following agreements.
International treaty or conventionSignatureRatificationNotes
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child—
African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration—
African Continental Free Trade Agreement—A trade agreement between some African Union member states which will establish the African Continental Free Trade Area.
African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
AU Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa
AU Non-aggression and Common Defence Pact
Convention of the African Energy Commission
Geneva ConventionsPolisario Front made a unilateral declaration under Article 93.3 of Protocol I to apply the four Conventions and Protocol I in the Western Sahara conflict with Morocco. Polisario Front is not recognized as a party of Conventions, but declaration was accepted by the depositary of Convenions.
OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism
Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights—
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa—
Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community SADR signed to the AEC Treaty, but not participates in any of the AEC pillars.

Participation in international sports federations

In 2015, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic participated for the first time in the All Africa Games, the biggest African multi-sports event.
International OrganisationStatusRepresentationApplication dateAdmission dateNotes
African Union Sports CouncilmemberSahrawi Ministry of Youth and SportsIn September 2015, Sahrawi Republic participated in the 11th All Africa Games.
N.F.-Boardprovisional memberSahrawi Football FederationDecember 2003In 2012, a Sahrawi team participated for the first time in the Viva World Cup hosted by Iraqi Kurdistan.
CONIFAmemberSahrawi Football FederationAugust 2016