Morocco vs. Western Sahara

1980 - ongoing by 2011

Core issue: Struggle for independence by POLISARIO
to create the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara

Type of conflict ending: Conflict ongoing by 2011

The conflict over the territory known as Western Sahara has been ongoing since the 1970s when Spain engaged in the process of decolonization. At that point, there were four different groups all claiming territorial rights to the area. While the conflict evolved into a confrontation between Morocco and the POLISARIO insurgents, the core issue of territorial control had not changed as of 2011. The four factions that asserted claims over the territory were Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and the national liberation movement known as POLISARIO. Spain was hesitant but willing to grant Western Saharan independence based on UN requests for a referendum. However, the referendum was never held as violence broke out. Morocco's claim on the territory was based on historic control of the territory before it was a Spanish colony. Similarly, Mauritania claimed historic rights to the area. Before the UN-backed referendum could be held, the issue was brought to the ICJ for arbitration. The ICJ decision was issued in 1975 and ruled that the historic claims of neither Morocco nor Mauritania were strong enough to deny the independence of the people. Unsatisfied with this decision the King of Morocco organized a civilian and military demonstration known as the Green March, when 350,000 Moroccans entered Spanish-held territory. This act influenced Spain to relinquish control over the territory to Morocco and Mauritania, which triggered POLISARIO to proclaim an independent state, the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic.

From 1975 onwards, POLISARIO fought first against Mauritania and later Morocco. Mauritania was not prepared for the war and relinquished ownership over the territory. By 1980, Morocco partially withdrew and only controlled 10 percent of the territory. The 1980s would experience a stalemate in which Morocco managed to contain the threat posed by POLISARIO. Morocco built large sand walls with landmine protection to hold their controlled territory. In 1991, the African Union and the United States facilitated an agreement, known as the Settlement Plan, by which a referendum was to be organized. Further, the plan foresaw an UN-led mission (MINURSO) to monitor a ceasefire between both parties. Though the referendum has not taken place due to discrepancies, the ceasefire remained intact. Morocco became comfortable with the status quo as it gradually obtained control of over 80 to 90 per cent of the Western Sahara, including its main three cities, leaving POLISARIO only in control of camps and some border regions with Algeria. As of 2011, the conflict remained frozen.

Sources

Chavez Fregoso, C., 2012. "Western Sahara: A Frozen Conflict", Journal of Regional Security, 7 (2), 139-150.

Dunbar, C., 2000. "Saharan Stasis: Status and Future Prospects of the Western Sahara Conflict", Middle East Journal, 54 (4), 522-545.

Seddon, D., 1996. "Western Sahara: Making haste slowly - little progress towards the referendum", Review of African Political Economy, 23 (67), 103-106.

UCDP - Morocco: Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) [online], 2019. Available from: https://ucdp.uu.se/conflict/331 [Accessed 13 Nov 2019].

Zoubir, Y.H., 1990. "The Western Sahara Conflict: Regional and International Dimensions", The Journal of Modern African Studies, 28 (2), 225-243.

Zoubir, Y.H., 2010. "The Unresolved Western Sahara Conflict and Its Repercussions", Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia), 4 (2), 85-99.