The death of Lahbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, a key figure in the Sahrawi armed forces and son of the movement’s former president, brutally exposes the harsh realities on the ground. Struck by a precision drone strike during a withdrawal operation, he joins the growing list of casualties from drone attacks in recent years. This technological edge has crippled the separatists, who have long relied on outdated, Spanish-made Land Rovers as their primary vehicles. As Jalil Mohamed Abdelaziz, the group’s delegate in Madrid, admits, the cost of defending their cause has become “exorbitantly high” in the face of Morocco’s overwhelming firepower.

Despite these crushing military setbacks, the Polisario maintains a contradictory position. Abdoullah Arabi, the group’s representative in Spain, insists that the movement “is accustomed to engaging in dialogue under all circumstances“, refusing to abandon bilateral negotiations. This vacillating stance was evident in April from the Algerian region of Tindouf, where 175,000 people remain stranded. There, leader Brahim Ghali softened his rhetoric, pledging to act as a peaceful partner to neighboring countries, including Morocco, while reiterating calls for adherence to UN resolutions.

This tactical inconsistency stems from the movement’s growing international isolation. With the conflict holding little geostrategic significance globally, Rabat has successfully secured backing from major Western powers like the United States and France. Even Spain reversed its position in 2022 when Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most viable solution. A shift that Abdoullah Arabi sharply criticized, condemning Madrid’s silence and double standards when Sahrawi lives are at stake.

Geographically, this isolation manifests in the form of a fortified sand berm built in the 1980s. This imposing military barrier slices through the 250,000 square kilometers of the disputed territory, placing the majority of the coastal zone under Moroccan control. Confined to the remaining 20% of inland territory, the separatists face an insurmountable physical barrier. Despite activist Aminatou Haidar’s insistence on the people’s unwavering resolve, intimate desert knowledge alone can no longer counter Morocco’s advanced military machinery.