Renewed conflict in Western Sahara

Conflict is growing in the disputed territory of Western Sahara as the pro-independence Polisario Front continues to oppose Moroccan claims of sovereignty over the vast arid region


“Southern Provinces” controlled by Morocco
“Free Zone” controlled by Polisario Front
Buffer zone

Canary Islands (Spain)
The Berm
MOROCCO
Laayoune
WESTERN SAHARA
Dakhla
Awsard
Guerguerat
MAURITANIA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ALGERIA
200km 125 miles

Tindouf: Home to several camps housing more than 165,000 Sahrawi refugees


MOROCCO 
Rabat 
500km 300 miles


TIMELINE

1975: Morocco annexes most of Western Sahara after Spanish colonial forces withdraw. Polisario Front – indigenous Sahrawi independence movement – begins 16-year-long guerrilla war against Moroccan forces

1976: Polisario guerrillas declare Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), with government-in-exile in Algeria

1980s: Morocco builds vast sand wall – “the Berm” – enclosing about four-fifths of territory within its own control and leaving tens of thousands of refugees on other side

1991: UN-brokered truce ends war and establishes MINURSO* peacekeeping force. Deal promises Sahrawi independence referendum, but vote never takes place

2019: UN-led talks on territory’s future end without progress

Nov-Dec 2020: Polisario says it is quitting 1991 truce after Moroccan troops enter UN-patrolled buffer zone to reopen key road leading to Mauritania. Tensions rise further when U.S. recognises Moroccan sovereignty over entire disputed territory in exchange for Morocco normalising relations with Israel


*United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara


Sources: AFP, BBC, ReliefWeb, Reuters 
© GRAPHIC NEWS