3 ms·

> Sahrawis on the Moroccan controlled areas basically enjoy a welfare state with free transport, no VAT, and many other benefits. How is this implemented? Do e

by yorwba 3mo ago

> Sahrawis on the Moroccan controlled areas basically enjoy a welfare state with free transport, no VAT, and many other benefits. How is this implemented? Do ethnic Sahrawis get special IDs that entitle them to such benefits? Or do they also apply to Moroccan settlers from the north? And considering that Moroccan provincial boundaries don't align with the borders of Spanish West Africa, where does Western Sahara even begin from the Moroccan point of view?

stephbook 3mo ago
He never said northerners don't get the same benefit. The contrast was obviously with Sahrawis on the Polisario side, which stay poor and Moroccans outside of the Sahara, which have to pay VAT.
- yorwba 3mo ago
  Yes, since he said neither of these things nor the opposite, I decided to take the opportunity to ask instead of assuming. For example, is Guelmim-Oued Noun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelmim-Oued_Noun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelmim-Oued_Noun inside or outside the sahara for VAT purposes, or does it have a VAT border running straight across it? Such things would be interesting to know.
timinou 3mo ago
Ok so anyone making a company ends up getting the same tax benefits on company taxes (to "attract investments"), but they don't get access to the "kartiya", which is the welfare card that ethnic Sahrawis get. Here's a PDF that mentions it https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/227-negotiations-over-western-sahara.pdf https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/227-negotiat... and here's an Arabic article about it https://www.dakhlanews.com/63328/ https://www.dakhlanews.com/63328/ The investment incentives let the local elites coopt the Moroccan government, while the card buys the assent of lower income Sahrawis. It's caused systemic unemployment, despite Sahrawis GDP per capita being 26% over the national average (The PDF is from an NGO so it gives a relatively unbiased view of the situation) From the Moroccan perspective, Western Sahara is just the Southern provinces. I'm guessing if you're part of a Sahrawi tribe, you get the card. It's less about where you live. Also, people who relocate from the refugee camps to Morocco get that card + housing.
- yorwba 3mo ago
  The Crisis Group report is a very interesting read, thanks!

by yorwba 3mo ago

stephbook 3mo ago

He never said northerners don't get the same benefit. The contrast was obviously with Sahrawis on the Polisario side, which stay poor and Moroccans outside of the Sahara, which have to pay VAT.

yorwba 3mo ago
Yes, since he said neither of these things nor the opposite, I decided to take the opportunity to ask instead of assuming. For example, is Guelmim-Oued Noun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelmim-Oued_Noun https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelmim-Oued_Noun inside or outside the sahara for VAT purposes, or does it have a VAT border running straight across it? Such things would be interesting to know.

timinou 3mo ago

Ok so anyone making a company ends up getting the same tax benefits on company taxes (to "attract investments"), but they don't get access to the "kartiya", which is the welfare card that ethnic Sahrawis get. Here's a PDF that mentions it https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/227-negotiations-over-western-sahara.pdf https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/227-negotiat... and here's an Arabic article about it https://www.dakhlanews.com/63328/ https://www.dakhlanews.com/63328/ The investment incentives let the local elites coopt the Moroccan government, while the card buys the assent of lower income Sahrawis. It's caused systemic unemployment, despite Sahrawis GDP per capita being 26% over the national average (The PDF is from an NGO so it gives a relatively unbiased view of the situation) From the Moroccan perspective, Western Sahara is just the Southern provinces. I'm guessing if you're part of a Sahrawi tribe, you get the card. It's less about where you live. Also, people who relocate from the refugee camps to Morocco get that card + housing.

yorwba 3mo ago
The Crisis Group report is a very interesting read, thanks!