The conflict exposed the weakness of the OAU and left it divided. The radical states at the organisation, such as Libya, Algeria, etc, supported POLISARIO, while the conservative and liberal supported Morocco. The capitalist member nations of OAU supported Morocco while the socialist ones supported POLISARIO. This was evidence that OAU member nations were divided and lacked a common stand on this issue. Additionally, the continuation of the war showed that the OAU was incapable of solving conflicts on the African continent.

It claimed thousands of lives and destroyed property. Innocent women and children were caught in the middle of war. Social-economic infrastructure, such as roads, railways, schools, hospitals, industries, etc were destroyed by the war. The founder of POLISARIA, El Ouali Mustapha Sayed, was assassinated.

The war attracted the intervention of the UNO. The organisation sent a fact finding mission to Western Sahara in 1975. In 1980, the UNO General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to end

Morocco's occupation of the territory. In 198§, Perez Decuella, the then UNO Secretary General successfully proposed an immediate ceasefire between POLISARIO and Morocco. Furthermore, the UNO organised a referendum for Western Sahara to choose a future in order to end war.

The conflict led to a refugee crisis. The conflict displaced several thousands of Saharans leading many to migrate to other parts of the territory, while some crossed borders to Algeria, Mauritania, etc.

The conflict also divided the Arab League. Radical nations jof the Arab League supported POLISARIO, while the liberal and conservative nations supported Morocco. Therefore, the Arab League formed in 1944, was divided over the problem of Western Sahara.

The war had economic ramifications for the countries involved. The war retarded the economic progress of Western Sahara. The over 20years of fighting drained resources, destroyed infrastructure and denied Western Sahara the opportunity to exploit her natural resources for development. Indeed, Western Sahara is one of the poorest areas in the world. Morocco and Mauritania spent a great deal of their budgets on the conflict, depriving them of the opportunity to improve the welfare of their people. Therefore, the war caused economic retardation.

It caused interstate conflicts in Africa. The relationship between Morocco and countries supporting POLISARIO, such as Algeria and Libya, was strained. Mauritania and Morocco conflicted with each other over the control of Western Sahara.

The conflict led to the defeat of Mauritania in 1978. Mauritania bowed out of the conflict, Morocco took over almost all the territory. Fighting continued between POLISARIO and Morocco.

The conflict led to a military coup in Mauritania 1978. Involvement in the war made the government of Ouid Daddah unpopular at home. The military overthrew it through a coup and replaced it with a military regime, which renounced Mauritania's claims over south Western Sahara.

It caused suffering to the people of Western ahara. All people, including innocent women and children, have been traumatised by the 20 years of war. Entire villages were destroyed, children were orphaned and families broke down. This has led to the emergence of a state of hopelessness, prostitution, crime and drug and substance abuse.

It intensified the Cold war conflict in the entire region of North Africa. The conflict attracted the two Cold war blocs into the region.

It exposed the weakness of the United Nations Organisation. Its ceasefire failed to hold, the referendum was postponed and its member nations took different sides of the conflict. Fighting went on for twenty years as the UNO seemed to look on.

It led to the emergence of POLISARIO as the official mouthpiece of the people of Western Sahara. POLISARIO was established in 1973 to champion the cause of independence. The organisation enjoys massive support across the territory.

It exposed the resolve and determination of the people of Western Sahara. They were determined to fight on and achieve complete independence.

The war stopped Moroccan exploitation of the mineral wealth of the territory. The mineral resources were reverted to the Saharans who have exploited them to develop their country.

The Western Sahara conflict was registered as one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in Africa.