Spanish Step Up Efforts On Western Sahara

Encouraging signs of Spanish diplomatic engagement with the long-running Western Sahara conflict emerged in June. Tensions in the disputed territory itself rose in May and June, when over 100 people were detained after widespread riots, following the transfer and alleged abuse of a Sahrawi prisoner. The riots, and the authorities' heavy-handed response, created a storm of bad publicity, just when attempts were being made to repair the damage done to Morocco's international reputation by the failure of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) summit in May. Increased Spanish engagement is very welcome, because pressure on Morocco from the EU represents the

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