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Senegal to Open Consulate in Western Sahara

A bulldozer passes by a hilltop manned by Moroccan soldiers on a road between Morocco and Mauritania in Guerguerat located in the Western Sahara, Nov. 23, 2020. (AFP)
A bulldozer passes by a hilltop manned by Moroccan soldiers on a road between Morocco and Mauritania in Guerguerat located in the Western Sahara, Nov. 23, 2020. (AFP)
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Senegal to Open Consulate in Western Sahara

A bulldozer passes by a hilltop manned by Moroccan soldiers on a road between Morocco and Mauritania in Guerguerat located in the Western Sahara, Nov. 23, 2020. (AFP)
A bulldozer passes by a hilltop manned by Moroccan soldiers on a road between Morocco and Mauritania in Guerguerat located in the Western Sahara, Nov. 23, 2020. (AFP)

Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco’s claim to the disputed territory, two official sources said according to Reuters.

The consulate will be opened by the Moroccan and Senegalese foreign ministers in the Atlantic city of Dakhla, making Senegal the 22nd nation to establish a diplomatic mission in the territory, the sources said.

The Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks independence for Western Sahara, a vast desert region held by Morocco since Spain withdrew in 1975.

Rabat has said the most it can offer as a political solution to the dispute is autonomy. The Polisario Front and Algeria have called for a referendum with independence as one of the options.

In December, the Trump administration recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and promised to open a consulate in Dakhla. The new administration of US President Joe Biden has not commented on its position on sovereignty.

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Arab World

Sudanese Army Reports First Defection of Senior RSF Commander

Members of the Sudanese army during a military parade (File Photo- AFP)
Members of the Sudanese army during a military parade (File Photo- AFP)
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Sudanese Army Reports First Defection of Senior RSF Commander

Members of the Sudanese army during a military parade (File Photo- AFP)
Members of the Sudanese army during a military parade (File Photo- AFP)

Sudan's army said on Sunday a commander from its foe the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had defected with some of his troops, in what would be the first such move by a senior figure since the sides started fighting more than 18 months ago.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF which has seized control of large parts of the country in a conflict with the military that the UN says has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Supporters of the army posted photos online purporting to show Abuagla Keikal - a former army officer who became the RSF's top commander in the southeastern state of El Gezira - after he had defected.

The army, which has recently reported gains against the RSF in parts of the capital, said Keikal had decided to make the move because of his former force's "destructive agenda".

It did not go into further detail and there was no statement, in print or on video, from Keikal, Reuters reported.

The conflict has displaced more than 10 million people, driven parts of the country to extreme hunger or famine, and drawn in foreign powers that have supplied both sides with material support.

It began in April 2023 when tensions between the RSF and the army, who had been jostling for position ahead of an internationally backed transition to civilian rule, erupted into open conflict.

The army and the RSF had previously shared power after staging a coup in 2021, two years after veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled in a