Saharan Insurgency

The Saharan Insurgency was a conflict fought between the United Nations and the Saharan Liberation Army (French: Armée de Libération du Sahara, ALS) on the planet Earth from 2163-2175 CE. The conflict was fought over the status of land rights in the Saharan Irrigation Project. Following the success of Operation Green Sahara (2147-2159 CE), many small landholders in the region were bought out or forced out by large multinational agricultural corporations. Ultimately, the conflict was concluded with a negotiated settlement that granted land rights to many traditional groups in the region, while still allowing large corporations to conduct business. Dissatisfaction from the peace treaty led many former ALS members to join Colonel Edward Tetchu's uprising in 2188 CE, culminating in the Mauritanian Police Action.

The Conflict

Prelude

Facing an increasingly precarious food global food supply, the United Nations authorised Operation Green Sahara in 2145 CE. The project aimed to transform the Sahara Desert into thriving farmlands, without disrupting the dust that fertilised the Amazon rainforest across the Atlantic Ocean. The project ran for twelve years, commencing in 2147 CE and officially concluding in 2159 CE. It was a stunning success, opening up millions of square kilometres of habitable farmland.

With huge new agriculture opportunities, large multinational corporations quickly began buying up land from the African Union and local landowners. Small farmers soon found themselves unable to compete with the extreme economies of scale created by these corporations, forcing them out of business. The Tuareg and Fulani, nomadic groups of pastoralists, were particularly affected by this. Privately owned farms closed off their land to them, enforcing their property with armed guards. While historically there were frequently disputes between farmers and herders, particularly after the conclusion of Operation Green Sahara, many of them joined forces to oppose what they viewed as foreign occupation of their land.

In response to this, and a lack of action by the United Nations, many of the affected individuals in the western Sahara formed the Armée de Libération du Sahara, or Saharan Liberation Army. Their goal was to take control of corporate farms and evict multinational corporations from the region, but this later expanded to demands of autonomy and even sovereignty from the United Nations. The majority of the ALS was comprised of nomadic herders, while farmers made up the remainder.

Deployment

The ALS was a moderately sized guerilla group that subsisted off of raids against private security, African Union, and United Nations Armed Forces (UNAF) supplies. Without access to heavy weapons, their preferred weapon was the technical: utility vehicles with machine guns mounted to their backs. Suicide bombings were uncommon, but ambushes against security forces were not.

Private security forces in the region at the start of the conflict were lightly armed, usually with carbines, submachine guns, and light body armour. As the conflict progressed, the African Union and UNAF were deployed, utilising armoured vehicles and helicopters. However, ALS guerillas were able to blend in with civilian populations, making tracking them difficult. Computerised identification systems developed during the Rainforest Wars were used in order to identify insurgents and their associates.

The Engagement

The early years of the Saharan Insurgency were comparatively mild. Aside from the occasional bombing or ambush of security forces, there was little in the way of conflict. It escalated in 2166 CE, following the massacre of over 100 foreign workers at a corporate farm in Mali. With outrage sweeping the world, the African Union directly stepped in to provide security for farmers. However, the plight of those forced from their homes by agri-corps was broadcast through social media networks across the African Union, and many member states refused to send troops to what they viewed as an "imperialist" occupation.

With limited aid from the African Union, its member states of Mali, Algeria, and Niger all petitioned the United Nations for a direct intervention. For over six months, the UN continued to insist that the matter was for the African Union to handle. When the three nations threatened to secede from the United Nations entirely, the UN began to take them much more seriously. A UNSC meeting led to President Guo Deng authorising the deployment of the 2nd Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division to the Sahara in order to stabilise the region.

The conflict lasted for an additional decade, finally ending in 2175 CE. The ALS had been significantly weakened as the multinational farms brought high-paying jobs to the region, somewhat alleviating economic concerns in the region. A contentious debate erupted in the ALS, with the majority (primarily herders) voting in favour of a peace settlement with the UN. Ultimately, the ALS agreed to a cessation of hostilities and negotiations with the UN, AU, and agri-corps.

Outcome

The weakened position of the ALS gave the UN an advantage in the peace negotiations. After several weeks of negotiations, a final treaty was finalised, and the ALS laid down their arms. Although the UN had the upper hand, it conceded on several critical points which it believed could maintain a lasting and equitable peace in the region. The ALS was required to hand over all weapons and any war criminals, and in return, land rights were guaranteed by law for farmers that wished to keep their land. Private farms were also required to permit nomads through their borders without harassment. In addition, the African Union promised additional investments in the region to boost the local economy.

Aftermath

While the UN-ALS treaty was upheld for the most part, some radicals within the ALS did not believe the treaty adequatly addressed long-term concerns over local sovereignty and the impact of large landholders. Many of these individuals would go on to join Colonel Edward Tetchu's rebellion against the UN in 2188 CE, where they were ultimately captured or killed by the UNAF. The majority of people affected by the treaty reported that they were pleased with it, including local landholders, multinational agri-corps, members of the African Union, and nomadic pastoralists in the region.

Conflict Type

Rebellion

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

2163 CE

Ending Date

2175 CE

Conflict Result

Negotiated settlement favouring the UN

Location

Saharan Irrigation Project

Belligerents

United Nations

Armée de Libération du Sahara

Strength

UNAF: 18,000
African Union: 25,000
Private Security Forces: 12,000

50,000-70,000

Casualties

UNAF: 185
African Union: 649
Private Security Forces: 350+

8,000+

Objectives

Maintain control over the Sahara Plains

Prevent foreign control of the Saharan Irrigation Project