Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Regions and territories: Western Sahara
A mainly desert territory in north-west Africa, Western Sahara is the subject of a decades-long dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front.
The territory is phosphate-rich and believed to have offshore oil deposits. Most of it has been under Moroccan control since 1976.
Western Sahara fell under Spanish rule in 1884, becoming a Spanish province in 1934. Nationalism emerged in the 1960s, as nomadic Saharans, or Saharawis, settled in the region.
Polisario was set up on 10 May 1973 and established itself as the sole representative of the Saharan people. Some 100,000 refugees still live in Polisario's camps in Algeria.
Madrid Agreement
In October 1975 the International Court of Justice rejected territorial claims by Morocco and Mauritania. The court recognised the Saharawis' right to self-determination and Spain agreed to organise a referendum.
But in November 1975, Moroccan King Hassan II ordered a "Green March" of over 300,000 Moroccans into the territory. Spain backed down and negotiated a settlement with Morocco and Mauritania, known as the Madrid Agreement.
Signed on 14 November 1975, the deal partitioned the region. Morocco acquired two-thirds in the north and Mauritania the remaining third. Spain agreed to end colonial rule.
Polisario declared the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on 27 February 1976 and announced its first government on 4 March.
The current SADR president, Mohamed Abdelaziz, was elected Polisario secretary-general in August 1976.
In August 1978, one month after a coup, a new Mauritanian government signed a peace deal with Polisario and renounced all territorial claims.
Morocco moved to occupy areas allocated to Mauritania. Algeria in turn allowed refugees to settle in its southern town of Tindouf, where Polisario still has its main base.
Polisario led a guerrilla war against Moroccan forces until 1991.
Referendum
In April 1991 the UN established Minurso, the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara. Its brief was to implement a peace plan outlined in a 1990 Security Council resolution.
In September 1991 a UN-brokered ceasefire was declared. KEY DATES- May 1973: Polisario set up
- November 1975: "Green March"
- February 1976: SADR declared
- March 1976: First SADR government set up
- August 1978: Mauritania-Polisario deal signed
- 1976-1991: Guerrilla warfare
- April 1991: Minurso established
- September 1991: Ceasefire declared
- May 1996: UN suspends referendum moves
- June 2001: Baker plan
The peace plan provided for a transition period, leading to a referendum in January 1992. Western Saharans would choose between independence and integration with Morocco.
Minurso was to total 1,000 civilian and 1,700 military personnel. Its brief was to monitor the ceasefire, the confinement of warring parties to designated areas and the exchange of prisoners.
While the ceasefire held, the mission was never fully deployed. Nor was the transition period ever completed. A key sticking point was an "identification process", to decide who was eligible to vote.
Identification was to be based on a census carried out by Spain in 1973. Polisario wanted to rule out Moroccans who settled in Western Sahara after the Green March.
In May 1996 the UN suspended the identification process and recalled most Minurso civilian staff. Military personnel stayed to oversee the truce.
Initial attempts to revive the process foundered over Morocco's worries that a referendum would not serve its interests.
Baker plan
Peace returned to the drawing board when UN special envoy James Baker mediated in talks between Polisario and Morocco in London, Lisbon and Houston in 1997, then in London again in 2000.
Agreements were reached on the release of POWs, a code of conduct for a referendum campaign, UN authority during a transition period - but not on voter eligibility. Further talks were held in Berlin and Geneva in 2000, but again ran into trouble.
In a new bid to break the deadlock, James Baker submitted a "Framework Agreement", known as the Third Way, in June 2001.
It provided for autonomy for Saharawis under Moroccan sovereignty, a referendum after a four-year transition period, and voting rights for Moroccan settlers resident in Western Sahara for over a year.
This formula was rejected by Polisario and Algeria. Then in July 2003, the UN adopted a compromise resolution proposing that Western Sahara become a semi-autonomous region of Morocco for a transition period of up to five years.
A referendum would then take place on independence, semi-autonomy or integration with Morocco.
This compromise was seen as addressing Moroccan concerns, in a bid to entice it to agree to a referendum.
Polisario signalled its readiness to accept, but Morocco rejected the plan, citing security concerns. Envoy James Baker resigned in June 2004 and the UN process remains deadlocked.
- Population: 260,000 (estimate)
- Main town: Laayoune
- Area: 252,120 sq km (97,344 sq miles)
- Major language: Arabic
- Major religion: Islam
- Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)
- Currency in use: Moroccan dirham
Although under the de facto administrative control of Morocco, the status and sovereignty of Western Sahara remain unresolved.
The Polisario Front proclaimed the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, with a government in exile headed by Mohamed Abdelaziz.
Morocco's state broadcaster RTM operates a radio service from Laayoune; the broadcaster's TV service is also relayed in the territory.
On the other side of the political divide, a Polisario-backed mediumwave (AM) radio station is on the air.
Radio
News agency
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian natural resources include phosphates, iron ore
the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian religion is Muslim.
Natural hazards in Western Sahara include hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility.
Travel Advice on Western Sahara
SUMMARY
- Western Sahara is a disputed territory and the UK regards its status as undetermined. There is no British diplomatic or consular presence in Western Sahara. However, you should register with the British Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) before you visit the territory.
- Developments in the region may trigger public unrest, especially after Friday prayers. You should avoid large gatherings of people and demonstrations, which can turn hostile. Be particularly alert in public places.
- The British Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) can provide only emergency consular services in Western Sahara and, in most cases, this will be by telephone.
- There is a high threat from terrorism, as there is in neighbouring Morocco.
- There are thousands of unexploded mines in the Western Sahara. You should avoid driving off road and take care on main roads especially when driving in more remote areas.
- Travel is restricted and while organised groups are generally permitted, independent overland travellers should be aware that they could be turned back at the border.
- The main types of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Western Sahara are difficulties with entry to and exit from the territory.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY