The death of Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, a senior commander in the Sahrawi army and son of the movement’s former president, has laid bare the harsh reality on the ground. He was struck by a high-precision munition during a withdrawal operation, joining dozens of others killed by drones in recent years. This technological superiority crushes the capabilities of the independence fighters, who historically rely on modified old Spanish Land Rovers. Facing such an asymmetric balance, the Polisario delegate in Madrid, Jalil Mohamed Abdelaziz, can only speak of the high price paid to defend their dignity.

Despite these deadly vulnerabilities, the separatist movement projects a contradictory stance. Abdullah Arabi, the group’s representative in Spain, insists that the Polisario is accustomed to dialogue in all possible contexts and refuses to close the door on bilateral contacts. This fluctuating line was evident last April from the Tindouf region in Algeria, where 175,000 people are crowded. Leader Brahim Ghali then softened the martial rhetoric, declaring that his camp wishes to act as a peaceful partner for its neighbours, including Morocco, while demanding respect for UN resolutions.

This tactical inconsistency stems directly from growing isolation on the international stage. The conflict garners little interest due to its low global geostrategic stakes, while Rabat has secured backing from major Western powers such as the United States and France. Spain itself made a shift in 2022 when President Pedro Sánchez described Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most serious basis for a solution. That reversal is denounced by Abdullah Arabi, who condemns Madrid’s deafening silence and double standards when Sahrawi victims are involved.

On the ground, this confinement is materialised by a fortified sand wall built in the 1980s. This giant military barrier splits the 250,000 square kilometres of the region, leaving most of the coastal area under strict Moroccan control. Confined to the remaining 20% of inland territory, the independence fighters face a physical obstacle they cannot cross. Although activist Aminatou Haidar boasts of an unbroken popular determination, intimate knowledge of the desert is no longer enough to counter Morocco’s powerful military machine.