The origins of the Western Sahara Conflict can be traced back to the 1884 Berlin Conference, which randomly divided up Africa between the colonial powers. The area that in 1975 was to be called the Western Sahara was taken away from Morocco and placed under the protection of Spain. Meanwhile, the Sahrawi Resistance was unsuccessful at driving out the Spanish. However, after the discovery of the biggest high grade phosphate deposits in the world, the Sahrawi Resistance became more bitter, and the Spanish more aggressive in keeping the territory. At this point, Spain and France, signed a military treaty to destroy the Sahrawi Liberation Army. (Incidentally, France got involved because it held the rest of Morocco and other parts of North Africa at this point).

        By 1956, Morocco starts claiming the territory. (Please see the Historical Foundations of the Moroccanity of the Sahara.) The year 1960 brought about the first political Sahrawi movement, and this one sought independence from Spain. A UN resolution in 1963 made the Western Sahara part of the list of countries to be decolonized. In accordance with this resolution, the UN General Assembly in 1965 further reasserted the Sahrawi people's rights to self-determintaion. It urged Spain to end its colonial rule. Not heeding this plea, Spain banned the Sahrawi movement in 1970, and this only led to a stronger Sahrawi nationalism. 1973 proved to be an important year concerning this issue. The POLISARIO Front was formed, and it waged a guerilla war against Spain as the latter started exporting phosphates. King Hassan II officially claimed the northern part of the territory, while Mauritania the southern in the same year. This does not refrain these two countries from calling for the exercise of self-determination in line with UN resolutions.

        In 1974, the Spanish government under Franco formally announces its plans to give the Western Sahara internal autonomy. Despite protests from King Hassan II, Spain disregards plans a referendum. However, the Moroccan king refuses to accept a Spanish-held referendum and decides to appeal to the International Court of Justice. The UN General Assembly requests an advisory opinion from the ICJ, as well as Spain to postpone its planned referendum. It also holds a census to see who's eligible to vote in a UN organized referendum. The ICJ declares that the Sahrawis have the right to self-detremination. This brings Hassan's response by a "Green March", a march of 350,000 people to cross the territory on November 9th. They proceed by advancing their army as they enter the northwest of the territory.

        At this point, Morocco, Mauritania, and Spain sign the Madrid Accords, which give Morocco the northern 2/3 of the disputed area, while Mauritania gets the southern 1/3. Spain and Morocco get exclusive rights to use the phosphate deposits. The last Spanish troops leave the territory, while the Polisario declares the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as well as a government in exile. They even adopt a constitution. This launches a series of wars that are fought in Mauritania and southern Morocco. In 1979, Mauritania signs the Algiers Agreement and abandons its claims to the Western Sahara. Morocco, however, does not renounce its claims, and begins building a fortified wall in 1981. Yet, the Polisario Front and Morocco sign a ceasefire in 1989. From this point onwards, although both sides agree to a referendum, it is constantly being postponed because of disagreements on who is eligible to vote.
        For a detailed historical chronology of this conflict, please click here.

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