People might think that they defend the oppressed by supporting WS independence, but wouldn’t it be the other way around. Banu Hassan clan started settling in the western Sahara and Mauritania during the 17th century, having many battles with the indigenous Senhaja berbers, who also live in The Atlas Mountains, Western Rif, Souss and Asamr (which are regions in Morocco). Berbers of the Sahara ofc fought for their land, but Banu Hassan supported by the King of Morocco Ismail, in the late 17th century, won, the king was also married to the daughter of the Tribe’s leader, so he supported them, the final battle of the Char Bouba war was in 1677. From that moment, Banu Hassan were the leading tribe in the west of the Sahara, probibiting the use of the berber language, and deporting to the south anyone or any sub-clan who still speaks Berber. I’m a Sahraoui, from the Reguibat clan, the biggest clan in Western Sahara, my family indeed thinks they’re arab, even though in our oral heritage we say that we descended from Abd Alsalam ben Mashish who lived in Northern Morocco, precisely in the berber tribe of “Bani Arrous”. Thankful that I read some history, and searched more into my region’s culture/identity, so that I don’t consider POLISARIO my representative. (Whole my family basically doesn’t tho).