U.S.-led talks on Western Sahara highlight structural colonial legacies and regional power dynamics
Original framing: “US hosts new Western Sahara talks amid deep divergences” — Africa News
The original framing omits the historical context of Spanish and French colonialism, the role of indigenous Sahrawi resistance, and the impact of Moroccan state violence and occupation. It also neglects the contributions of African Union and UN mechanisms, as well as the lived experiences of displaced Sahrawi communities.
High structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative is produced by Western media outlets and diplomatic institutions that serve the interests of global powers like the U.S. and EU, which have historically supported Morocco’s territorial claims. The framing obscures the role of neocolonial alliances and the marginalization of the Polisario Front’s legitimate self-determination claims. It reinforces a geopolitical hierarchy that privileges stability over justice.
The conflict has deep roots in 19th and 20th-century European colonialism, with Spain, France, and later Morocco asserting control over the territory. The 1975 Green March and Moroccan annexation were part of a broader pattern of post-colonial land grabs in Africa, with the U.S. and France playing key roles in legitimizing Moroccan control.
The Western Sahara conflict is not merely a diplomatic impasse but a legacy of European colonialism and ongoing neocolonial alliances. The U.S.