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The Organization of African Unity and the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

J. Naldi
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Extract

The long-standing Western Sahara dispute which has plagued the OAU finally came to a head in August, 1982, when, as a consequence of the admission of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic to the Organization earlier in the year, the Nineteenth Summit Conference due to have been held in Tripoli was postponed sine die. Following a Moroccan-inspired boycott, an insufficient quorum existed to allow the meeting to proceed. The Western Sahara dispute has emphasised some of the shortcomings of the OAU. Although it may have been initially assumed that the OAU was better suited to handle this dispute, it was handicapped by the intransigent attitudes of the parties to the dispute. Threats to cancel membership of the Organization if the SADR was ever admitted were repeatedly made by Morocco and some of her allies. The SADR secured membership of the OAU in February, 1982, and the worst fears appear to have been confirmed. The question therefore arises as to what the future holds for the OAU, but first it is necessary to examine how the SADR was admitted to the OAU.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of African Law , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , Autumn 1982 , pp. 152 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1982

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References

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