Western Sahara conflict reignites

Fears are increasing that Western Sahara is inching towards war, as the region’s
Algerian-backed separatists retaliate against the growing international acceptance of Morocco’s sovereignty claims


Guerguerat buffer zone
MAURITANIA
Polisario-controlled “Free Zone”
Awsard
Dakhla
WESTERN SAHARA
Bojador
Laayoune
The Berm: 2,700km-long wall constructed by Morocco
Occupied by Morocco
Canary Islands (SPAIN)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Madeira (PORTUGAL)
Tindouf: 180,000 Sahrawi refugees
ALGERIA
Agadir
Marrakesh
MOROCCO
Casablanca
Rabat
SPAIN
Mediterranean
200km 125 miles


TIMELINE

1975: Western Sahara annexed by Morocco as colonial power, Spain, withdraws

1976: Polisario Front wages guerrilla war against Moroccan army and sets up self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

1991: UN-brokered truce includes promise of referendum on self-determination, with independence as one option

2018: First round of direct talks in six years between Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Polisario ends without progress

Nov 13, 2020: Morocco launches military operation in Guerguerat buffer zone after accusing Polisario of blocking access to Mauritania

Nov 14: Leader of Polisario, Brahim Ghali (above) declares group has ended commitment to 1991 ceasefire

 
Sources: Stratfor, UN, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS