Sahrawi National Union Party
Encyclopedia
Partido de Unión Nacional Saharaui (PUNS, Sahrawi National Union Party) was a short-lived political party
set up by Spain
to rally support in its rebellious Spanish Sahara
colony
(now Western Sahara
).
, a tribalist
political body set up for similar purposes in the 1950s.
PUNS was the only legal party in Fascist
Spain except the ruling Falange, (not counting the recents legalization of nationalist, liberal and Social-Christian transitional associations, yet without representation in the national Movement principios and special constitutional Leyes Fundamentales laws), and was allowed to send delegates to the Cortes
(Parliament) in Madrid
. It had no decision making powers, and was more an instrument of the military governors in Western Sahara. Its leaders and creators, Khellihenna Ould Errachid and Dueh Sidna Naucha, worked in close collaboration with Spanish authorities.
, a nationalist guerrilla
which had by then taken over most of the countryside. PUNS also advocated independence
as a distant goal to be preceded by autonomy within Spain, and conditional on good relations with the government in Madrid.
As the prospect of Moroccan
invasion began to seem ever likelier after the 1975 ICJ verdict
on Western Sahara, the colonial authorities allowed the PUNS to increase its demands for independence and campaign intensely against Moroccan ambitions, even threatening armed struggle against an invasion.
As the difference of opinion rapidly shrank, the PUNS membership gravitated towards the Polisario, and as early as May 1975, the leaders of PUNS met with Polisario's Secretary General, El-Ouali, who consistently condemned the party as a "puppet" of Fascism
and colonialism. Many members were also present at the Ain Ben Tili
and Guelta Zemmur
conferences, although not as representatives of the party, but rather the Djema'a or tribal groupings.
In mid-1975, PUNS seemed to simultaneously be slipping out of Spanish control and losing its political relevance, since Spain no longer had a need for a loyal political party in Western Sahara. In addition to this, Polisario remained distrustful, and did not accept the demand of PUNS leaders to form a common political front while preserving the party's internal structure. El-Ouali instead insisted that the PUNS dissolve itself and that its supporters could join the Polisario as regular members.
, Spain abandoned PUNS, and what little remained of the party instantly collapsed. Its membership dispersed; many were swept away in the refugee
exodus to Tindouf
, Algeria
, where they joined the Polisario. A minor number, including some prominent leaders, instead went to Morocco, where they denounced their earlier nationalist campaign to support the claims of King Hassan II to Western Sahara—notably, PUNS leader Khellihenna Ould Errachid, who still today acts as the Moroccan monarchy's main Sahrawi face to its claims to Western Sahara. Dueh Sidna Naucha went to Spain in 1975. Nowadays he lives in the Canary islands
. A very small number of activists went to Mauritania, supporting the Ould Daddah government's claims on the territory, until its collapse in 1978.
In the night of November 14, 1975, the remaining members of the PUNS, headed by secretary general Dueh Sidna Naucha, officially dissolved the PUNS, giving the affiliates the chance to join the POLISARIO.
In retrospect, the party had little or no effect on the political dynamics of Spanish/Western Sahara. The colonial practice of creating "loyal opposition" to draw away support for nationalist movements had been tried with greater success in several Europe
an colonies, but in the case of Western Sahara, it was too little, too late.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
set up by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to rally support in its rebellious Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was ruled as a territory by Spain between 1884 and 1975...
colony
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
(now 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...
).
Creation of PUNS
The PUNS was created in late 1974 as the Partido Revolucionario Progresivo (Revolutionary Progressive Party), but soon changed its name. It was composed mainly of members of the Djema'aDjema'a
The term Djema'a can refer to two things in a Western Sahara context.-Djema'a: Tribal Leadership:The Djema'a was the leading body in a Sahrawi tribe, composed of elders and elected leaders...
, a tribalist
Tribalism
The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the small size of tribes, it is always a relatively simple role structure, with few significant social distinctions between individuals....
political body set up for similar purposes in the 1950s.
PUNS was the only legal party in Fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
Spain except the ruling Falange, (not counting the recents legalization of nationalist, liberal and Social-Christian transitional associations, yet without representation in the national Movement principios and special constitutional Leyes Fundamentales laws), and was allowed to send delegates to the Cortes
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
(Parliament) in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. It had no decision making powers, and was more an instrument of the military governors in Western Sahara. Its leaders and creators, Khellihenna Ould Errachid and Dueh Sidna Naucha, worked in close collaboration with Spanish authorities.
Political profile
Its political program was supportive of Spain, and changed according to the rapid evolution of Spanish policy. In first months of its existence, its political activity mainly consisted of statements denouncing the Polisario FrontPolisario 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...
, a nationalist guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
which had by then taken over most of the countryside. PUNS also advocated 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....
as a distant goal to be preceded by autonomy within Spain, and conditional on good relations with the government in Madrid.
As the prospect of Moroccan
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...
invasion began to seem ever likelier after the 1975 ICJ verdict
International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara
One of the main functions of the International Court of Justice is to provide Advisory Opinions - non-binding legal interpretations admitted by United Nations organs. In the summer of 1975, the court considered two questions regarding the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
on Western Sahara, the colonial authorities allowed the PUNS to increase its demands for independence and campaign intensely against Moroccan ambitions, even threatening armed struggle against an invasion.
As the difference of opinion rapidly shrank, the PUNS membership gravitated towards the Polisario, and as early as May 1975, the leaders of PUNS met with Polisario's Secretary General, El-Ouali, who consistently condemned the party as a "puppet" of Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and colonialism. Many members were also present at the Ain Ben Tili
Ain Ben Tili
Ain Ben Tili is a small town in northeast Mauritania, on the border with Western Sahara, in the Sahara desert.On October 12, 1975, the Polisario Front gathered a large number of Sahrawi tribal elders in a conference in Ain Ben Tili to rally the tribes against impending Moroccan and Mauritanian...
and Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur is a small town or village in the Moroccan-administered territory of Western Sahara.The town is based around a guelta or oasis, retaining rain water for long periods...
conferences, although not as representatives of the party, but rather the Djema'a or tribal groupings.
In mid-1975, PUNS seemed to simultaneously be slipping out of Spanish control and losing its political relevance, since Spain no longer had a need for a loyal political party in Western Sahara. In addition to this, Polisario remained distrustful, and did not accept the demand of PUNS leaders to form a common political front while preserving the party's internal structure. El-Ouali instead insisted that the PUNS dissolve itself and that its supporters could join the Polisario as regular members.
Collapse in 1975
As Morocco and Mauritania invaded in the winter of 1975, after the Madrid AccordsMadrid Accords
The Madrid Accords, also called Madrid Agreement or Madrid Pact, was a treaty between Spain, Morocco, and Mauritania to end the Spanish presence in the territory of Spanish Sahara, which was until the Madrid Accords' inception a Spanish province and former colony. It was signed in Madrid on...
, Spain abandoned PUNS, and what little remained of the party instantly collapsed. Its membership dispersed; many were swept away in the refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
exodus to Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, where they joined the Polisario. A minor number, including some prominent leaders, instead went to Morocco, where they denounced their earlier nationalist campaign to support the claims of King Hassan II to Western Sahara—notably, PUNS leader Khellihenna Ould Errachid, who still today acts as the Moroccan monarchy's main Sahrawi face to its claims to Western Sahara. Dueh Sidna Naucha went to Spain in 1975. Nowadays he lives in the Canary islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. A very small number of activists went to Mauritania, supporting the Ould Daddah government's claims on the territory, until its collapse in 1978.
In the night of November 14, 1975, the remaining members of the PUNS, headed by secretary general Dueh Sidna Naucha, officially dissolved the PUNS, giving the affiliates the chance to join the POLISARIO.
In retrospect, the party had little or no effect on the political dynamics of Spanish/Western Sahara. The colonial practice of creating "loyal opposition" to draw away support for nationalist movements had been tried with greater success in several Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an colonies, but in the case of Western Sahara, it was too little, too late.
Further reading
- Tony Hodges (1983), Western Sahara: The Roots of a Desert War, Lawrence Hill Books (ISBN 0-88208-152-7)
- Anthony G. Pazzanita and Tony Hodges (1994), Historical Dictionary of Western Sahara, Scarecrow Press (ISBN 0-8108-2661-5)