Morocco's Views on Western Sahara Rejected at Africa Forum
Listen to the story
A big meeting happened in Cotonou, in the country of Benin.
It was the 17th World Social Forum. Many people from Africa came to talk.
Morocco tried to explain its ideas about Western Sahara. Morocco calls this land its own.
But many people at the meeting did not agree with Morocco. This was a big failure for Morocco.
People call Morocco's government the Makhzen. This word means the power around the king.
Many people at the forum support Western Sahara. They say it is the last colony in Africa.
A colony is land that one country controls, but the people there want to be free.
Young people from Algeria also came to the meeting. They talked about the future of Africa.
They want Africa to grow strong and work together.
The meeting showed that many Africans support freedom for Western Sahara.
Vocabulary15 words
- World Social Forum
- a big meeting where people talk about world problems
- Western Sahara
- a land in Africa; many people there want to be free
- failure
- when something does not work; not success
- Makhzen
- a word for Morocco's king and his government
- colony
- land controlled by another country
- Algeria
- a country in North Africa
- renewal
- making something new and strong again
- cause
- an idea or goal people support
- promotion
- trying to make people believe or like something
- thesis
- an idea that someone tries to prove
- sensitization
- helping people understand a problem
- edition
- one event in a series of similar events
- forum
- a place where people meet and talk
- youth
- young people
- support
- to agree with and help someone
Quiz
Answer key
1. Cotonou, Benin 2. They failed to convince people 3. Young Algerians
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A big meeting happened in _____, in the country of Benin.
It was the 17th World Social _____. Many people from Africa came to talk.
Morocco tried to explain its ideas about Western _____.
But many people at the meeting did not _____ with Morocco.
This was a big _____ for Morocco.
People call Morocco's government the _____.
Many people at the forum support Western Sahara. They say it is the last _____ in Africa.
Young people from _____ also came to the meeting.
They talked about the future of _____.
They want Africa to grow strong and work _____.