France shifts Western Sahara position 

France recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, dealing a blow to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front that claims the disputed territory as an independent state
  

Tindouf: 173,600 ethnic Sahrawi people in five refugee camps

Canary Islands (Spain)
Laayoune 
Cabo Bojador
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Dakhla
MOROCCO
WESTERN SAHARA
ALGERIA
MAURITANIA
MALI
Sahara Desert

Bou Craa
Major phosphate mining area

Berm: 2,700km-long defensive wall separates Moroccan-controlled area and Polisario Front-controlled eastern area

200km                                          
120 miles
  

HISTORY OF WESTERN SAHARA CONFLICT

1975: Morocco takes control of most of Western Sahara as colonial power Spain withdraws
 
1975-1991: Polisario Front fights 16-year-long guerrilla war against Moroccan forces
     
1991-2000s: UN-brokered ceasefire ends war. Polisario Front controls about third of territory – rest controlled by Morocco
 
Jul 2016: Brahim Ghali (left) elected leader of Polisario Front and president of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – SADR

Dec 2020: U.S. recognises full Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco establishing relations with Israel

Jul 30, 2024: France’s President Emmanuel Macron writes: “The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.” Algeria withdraws ambassador to France
 

Sources: France 24, Politico, Reuters, United Nations 
Picture: Getty Images 
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