Western Sahara

The independence of Western Sahara

Context

Since the early 1970s, the region of Western Sahara and its surrounding areas have been in a sporadic state of armed conflict. The status of this territory has not been resolved, this region remains as a disputed territory conflict between the Polisario Front, a rebel national liberation movement, and Morocco, who also holds claims to the region;for this reason this area is considered a non-self governed territory by the United Nations.
.The roots of the conflict extend back to the original Spanish colonization, which started in 1884; but the increase of attacks by the native Saharan population limited the Iberian nation’s influence to mere administrative control. During the 20th century, Spanish reaction to rebellions and militantresponses became more severe, the Spanish government began destroying rebel organizations, separating or distancing them from their leaders. It was until 1971 when resistance to Spanish government became organized, this was due to the founding of the POLISARIO Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro) by native Saharan students from Morocco. This organization startedwhit the goal of ending Spanish colonization and it was officially constituted on May 10, 1973. It was in the 70s when Polisario Front gained power, territory, and weapons as it advanced through Western Sahara and eventually gained the support of previously Spanish-allied Sahrawi as well. Polisario actions eventually led to the signing of the Madrid Accords in 1975 which officially ended Spanishpresence in Western Sahara and gave administrative control to Morocco and Mauritania.
However, the Polisario Front continued on with its rebellion, which resulted in a 16-year conflict know as the Western Sahara War, fought between the Polisario Front and Morocco/Mauritania. In August 1979, Mauritania, abandoned all claims to its portion, leaving Morocco to continue the conflict with thePolisario Front. Then Moroco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control over the whole territory.  The official Moroccan government name for Western Sahara is the "Southern Provinces," which indicates Río de Oro and Saguia el-Hamra.
Fighting continued until 1991 when a cease-fire was finally agreed upon. By this time, the war had already claimed over20,000 lives and displaced over 50,000 Native Saharans. Although the armistice was signed over 20 years ago, acts of violence between Sahrawi and Moroccans are still common and Western Sahara remains a disputed territory.

Facts in chronological order
1973 Front Polisario was formed and launched its first raids against Spanish colonizers.
31 October 1975 Moroccan troops crossed the frontierand clashed with Polisario guerrillas.
6 November 1975 The “Green March” over the border between Western Sahara and Morocco moved around 350,000 Moroccans into the territory.
14 November 1975 Spain ceded Western Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania after the signature of the Madrid Accord.
26 February 1976 Spain withdrew from Western Sahara.
27 February 1976 Morocco annexed Western Sahara. TheSaharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) was founded and announced an armed struggle to achieve the right of self-determination. 
1979 Mauritania renounced all claims on Western Sahara. Morocco took over the Mauritanian sector of Western Sahara.
30 August 1988 The two parties agreed on the UN “settlement proposals,” which pushed for a ceasefire and the holding of a referendum to enable the people ofWestern Sahara to choose between independence and integration with Morocco
29 April 1991 Resolution 690 established UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with the mandate to implement the settlement proposals during a transitional period in which the referendum would be organized. 
September 1997 The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, James Baker, conducted a successful...