Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (SPS) – The Sahrawi people are commemorating today, Wednesday, May 20, the 53rd anniversary of the outbreak of the armed struggle, fully determined to continue resistance and steadfastness until achieving freedom and independence.
The Sahrawi people mark this anniversary while recalling 53 years of sacrifices and achievements made on the path of liberation, state-building, and asserting their existence.
The commemoration comes as the Sahrawi people continue to achieve gains under their young state, a reality that, they affirm, is irreversible.
Over the past 53 years, the Sahrawi people have managed to confront invaders and occupiers backed by some of the strongest colonial powers, asserting their presence in all arenas of confrontation. On the military front, the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army has fought fierce battles against occupation forces, writing heroic chapters in history and inflicting major defeats while gaining a unique experience from which lessons continue to be drawn. Today, it continues to confront Moroccan forces along the “wall of shame,” causing losses in lives and equipment.
On the diplomatic front, the presence of the Sahrawi state has become firmly established through its effective participation as a founding and full member of the African Union, contributing actively to the organization’s activities and to the development of ideas aimed at serving the Union and the peoples of Africa.
During these 53 years, the Sahrawi state has built broad relations across different continents based on solidarity, recognition of the Sahrawi people and their state, and advocacy for their legitimate right to freedom and independence.
At the level of national institution-building, the Sahrawi state has established a unique experience in creating national institutions that provide essential services such as education and healthcare despite difficult conditions and limited resources.
After 53 years, the Sahrawi people remain more committed than ever to their cause and unity, rallying behind their sole and legitimate representative, the POLISARIO Front, despite the efforts of their adversaries.
