The plight of the "last colony of Africa" will be the topic of a lunchtime event at Ballarat Trades Hall on Monday.
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Tecber Ahmed Saleh will be talking about Western Sahara, a north African country that has been largely occupied by Moroccan forces since 1975.
Ms Saleh is a human rights advocate who works as health minister in the refugee camps that have been set up as a result of the conflict.
There are an estimated 173,600 refugees in the in south-west Algerian camps, full of Saharawi people who have been displaced.
The country was originally occupied by Spain in 1884.
According to a BBC profile, the United Nations called for the de-colonisation of the country in 1964.
In 1975 Morocco annexed the country and armed conflict continued until 1991 when a ceasefire was agreed.
A referendum of self-determination was promised at the time but the process has since stalled.
Ms Saleh will be talking about the conditions in the camps as well as the current political situation in her country and the struggle of her people for independence.
The event is being put on by the Ballarat Trades Hall and Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees, and is supported by the Australian Western Sahara Association.
- It will take place from 12 noon to 1pm at Ballarat Trades Hall on 24 Camp Street on Monday September 9. Entry is free.
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