Nestled along the rugged northwest coast of Africa, bordering the vast Atlantic Ocean, lies Western Sahara – a territory often described as one of the world's most enduring and complex political disputes. Known in Arabic as aṣ-Ṣaḥrā' al-Gharbiyyah, in Berber languages as Taneẓroft Tutrimt, and in Spanish as Sáhara Occidental, this expansive desert land in the Maghreb region remains a poignant symbol of an unresolved decolonization process. Its stark, flat desert landscapes belie a profound human story and a geopolitical struggle that has spanned decades.

With a surface area of approximately 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 sq mi), Western Sahara is remarkably sparsely populated. Its population, estimated at just over 500,000, finds its largest concentration in the city of Laayoune, where nearly 40% of its residents live. While the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), supported by the Polisario Front, claims sovereignty over the entire territory and administers about 20% of it, the vast majority – roughly 80% – has been occupied and administered by neighboring Morocco since the mid-1970s.

A Legacy of Spanish Rule and the Quest for Self-Determination

The roots of the current conflict stretch back to the era of European colonialism. For decades, Western Sahara, then known as Spanish Sahara, was under Spanish occupation. It gained significant international attention when it was placed on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories in 1963, following a demand from Morocco. This designation underscored the international community's recognition that the territory's future status needed to be determined through the principle of self-determination.

The UN General Assembly began adopting resolutions as early as 1965, urging Spain to decolonize the territory. A pivotal resolution in 1966 specifically requested Spain to hold a referendum, allowing the Sahrawi people to decide their own fate. However, the path to independence proved anything but straightforward.

The Madrid Accords and the Outbreak of War

By 1975, as Spain prepared to withdraw, a dramatic shift occurred. Rather than facilitating a straightforward referendum, Spain entered into the Madrid Accords, relinquishing administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco had, in fact, formally laid claim to the territory since 1957, viewing it as its "Southern Provinces."

This move ignited a brutal war for control. The Polisario Front, a Sahrawi nationalist movement formed in 1973 with the aim of liberating the territory from Spanish rule, quickly turned its armed struggle against the new claimants. The Polisario Front declared the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), establishing a government-in-exile in Tindouf, Algeria, which provided crucial support. Mauritania, facing significant military pressure from the Polisario Front, eventually withdrew its claims in 1979. However, Morocco solidified its military advantage, securing de facto control over most of the territory, including all major cities and vital natural resources.

The Standoff: Ceasefire, the Wall, and International Positions

The conflict continued until 1991, when a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire agreement brought a fragile peace. As part of this agreement, a UN mission (MINURSO) was deployed with the primary aim of organizing a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people. Yet, three decades later, this referendum has been consistently postponed, leaving the core issue unresolved.

Today, the landscape of Western Sahara is physically divided by the "Moroccan Western Sahara Wall" – a vast defensive sand berm spanning thousands of kilometres. This wall effectively separates the Moroccan-administered two-thirds of the territory (including most of the Atlantic coastline) from the SADR-controlled eastern and southern parts, which are often referred to as the "Free Zone."

A Complex Web of Recognition and Diplomacy

The international community's stance on Western Sahara is multifaceted. The UN continues to consider the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people and reaffirms their right to self-determination. However, no other UN member state had officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over parts of Western Sahara until a significant development in 2020, when the United States formally recognized Morocco's claims in exchange for Morocco's normalization of relations with Israel.

Other nations, like Russia, have largely adopted an ambiguous and neutral position, consistently urging both parties to seek a peaceful resolution. Both Morocco and the Polisario Front actively seek to bolster their claims through formal international recognition, particularly from African, Asian, and Latin American states. The SADR has garnered recognition from 46 states and holds full membership in the African Union (AU). Conversely, Morocco's position enjoys support from several African governments, most of the Muslim world, and the Arab League. The ebb and flow of these recognitions, with states extending and withdrawing support based on evolving diplomatic relations with Morocco, underscores the sensitive nature of the dispute.

The African Union's Unique Role

The African Union, through its predecessor the Organization of African Unity (OAU), has played a distinctive role in the Western Sahara conflict. In 1984, the OAU recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full member, placing it on equal footing with Morocco. In protest, Morocco suspended its membership from the OAU, a boycott that lasted for over three decades.

Morocco was readmitted to the African Union on January 30, 2017, with an understanding that the conflicting claims would be resolved peacefully and that Morocco would cease building additional walls to expand its military control. While the AU has not issued a formal statement on the precise border separating Moroccan sovereign territories from the SADR within Western Sahara, it actively participates with the UN mission, contributing peacekeeping contingents to control the buffer zone near the de facto wall-defined border, aiming to maintain the ceasefire and facilitate a lasting peace agreement between its two member states.

The Polisario Front: A Voice for Sahrawi Nationalism

The Polisario Front, whose full Spanish name is Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguia el Hamra y Río de Oro (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro), represents the enduring struggle for Sahrawi self-determination. Tracing its origins to the Movement for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Wadi el Dhahab, the Polisario Front was formally constituted in 1973. Its initial aim was to wage an armed struggle against the Spanish occupation, which it did until Spain's withdrawal in 1975.

Following the Madrid Accords, the movement redirected its military campaign against Morocco and Mauritania, successfully compelling Mauritania to relinquish its claims in 1979. The conflict with Morocco continued until the 1991 ceasefire. Despite the UN's recognition of the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people and its commitment to their right to self-determination, the referendum remains stalled. In a significant and concerning development, the Polisario Front declared the 1991 ceasefire over in 2020 and has since resumed armed conflict, citing Morocco's actions as a violation of the truce.

Within the parts of Western Sahara under Moroccan control, the Polisario Front is outlawed, and displaying its flag (often referred to as the Sahrawi flag) is illegal. The movement is also a consultative member of the Socialist International, underscoring its connections within global progressive political circles.

FAQs About Western Sahara

What is Western Sahara?

Western Sahara is a vast, sparsely populated territory located on the northwest coast of Africa. It is internationally recognized as a disputed territory, with its sovereignty claimed by both the Kingdom of Morocco and the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), represented by the Polisario Front.

Who controls Western Sahara?

Approximately 80% of Western Sahara, including its major cities and most natural resources, is administered by Morocco. The remaining 20% to the east of the Moroccan Wall (berm) is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by the Polisario Front.

Why is Western Sahara disputed?

The dispute stems from the decolonization of the territory by Spain in 1975. Instead of a UN-mandated referendum on self-determination, Spain transferred administrative control to a joint Moroccan-Mauritanian administration. This led to a war between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.

What is the Polisario Front?

The Polisario Front is a Sahrawi nationalist liberation movement that was formed in 1973 to fight for the independence of Western Sahara. It is recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people and leads the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

Is there a war in Western Sahara?

After a 30-year ceasefire brokered by the United Nations in 1991, the Polisario Front declared the ceasefire over in November 2020 and resumed armed conflict with Morocco, citing violations of the truce. The situation remains tense with ongoing low-intensity clashes.

What role does the United Nations play?

The United Nations considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory and has called for a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people. The UN maintains a peacekeeping mission (MINURSO) in the territory to monitor the ceasefire and work towards a peaceful resolution.

What is the "Moroccan Wall" in Western Sahara?

The "Moroccan Wall" or "Berm" is a vast, approximately 2,700-kilometer-long defensive sand wall constructed by Morocco during the conflict in the 1980s. It physically separates the Moroccan-controlled areas of Western Sahara from the Polisario Front-controlled "Free Zone" to the east.