Settlement Plan
Encyclopedia
The Settlement Plan was an agreement between the Polisario Front
and Morocco
on the organization of a referendum
, which would constitute an expression of self-determination
for the people of Western Sahara
, leading either to full independence
, or integration with the kingdom of Morocco. It resulted in a cease-fire which remains effective to this day, and the establishment of the MINURSO peace force to oversee it and to organize the referendum.
It was based on an earlier peace proposal by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), but this time organized by the United Nations
. Originally introduced in the late 1980s and in 1990 in Security Council Resolution 658
, the plan was signed in 1991. The referendum was then supposed take place in 1992, but this never happened, as both parties did not agree over who should be allowed to vote. In 1997, the UN's Houston Agreement
attempted to clear the path for the referendum to be held in 1998, and published a comprehensive electoral census. However, due to Morocco's refusal to accept the census results, and thus unlikelihood of accepting referendum based on the voters proposed, the UN Secretary General suspended the Settlement Plan .
Other solutions were sought by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy James Baker
in 2001, and Morocco accepted but Algeria and the Polisario Front rejected what became known as Baker Plan
I. In 2003 Baker Plan
II was rejected by Morocco and accepted by Algeria and the Polisario Front. In June 2004, James Baker resigned his post as UN Envoy to Western Sahara.
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
on the organization of a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
, which would constitute an expression of self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for the people of Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
, leading either to full independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, or integration with the kingdom of Morocco. It resulted in a cease-fire which remains effective to this day, and the establishment of the MINURSO peace force to oversee it and to organize the referendum.
It was based on an earlier peace proposal by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), but this time organized by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Originally introduced in the late 1980s and in 1990 in Security Council Resolution 658
United Nations Security Council Resolution 658
United Nations Security Council Resolution 658, adopted unanimously on June 27, 1990, after recalling Resolution 621 and noting a report by the Secretary-General on the situation in Western Sahara, the Council approved the Secretary-General's recommendations regarding a settlement of the...
, the plan was signed in 1991. The referendum was then supposed take place in 1992, but this never happened, as both parties did not agree over who should be allowed to vote. In 1997, the UN's Houston Agreement
Houston Agreement
The Houston Agreement was the result of negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco on the organization of a referendum, which would constitute an expression of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, possibly leading to full independence or integration within Morocco...
attempted to clear the path for the referendum to be held in 1998, and published a comprehensive electoral census. However, due to Morocco's refusal to accept the census results, and thus unlikelihood of accepting referendum based on the voters proposed, the UN Secretary General suspended the Settlement Plan .
Other solutions were sought by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy James Baker
James Baker
James Addison Baker, III is an American attorney, politician and political advisor.Baker served as the Chief of Staff in President Ronald Reagan's first administration and in the final year of the administration of President George H. W. Bush...
in 2001, and Morocco accepted but Algeria and the Polisario Front rejected what became known as Baker Plan
Baker Plan
The Baker Plan is a United Nations initiative to grant self-determination to Western Sahara...
I. In 2003 Baker Plan
Baker Plan
The Baker Plan is a United Nations initiative to grant self-determination to Western Sahara...
II was rejected by Morocco and accepted by Algeria and the Polisario Front. In June 2004, James Baker resigned his post as UN Envoy to Western Sahara.