A timeline of the Sahrawi Struggle

Our story begins in 1975

Although the story of Western Sahara does not begin in 1975, this story does, and the Moroccan occupation does.

Western Sahara previously known as the Spanish Sahara was a Spanish colony. In the 20th Century, the newly formed League of Nations (UN), started the process of decolonisation. Colonies around the globe were granted independence after decades of armed and peaceful struggles. On the dictators deathbed, Franco instead of granting independence, he decided to gift what was never his to Morocco.

Mauritania also wrongly claimed Western Sahara as their own, and so in 1975, Morocco invaded from the North and Mauritania invaded from the South.

The Polisario (formed in 1973 to fight for independence), engaged in armed conflict with the support of Libya and Algeria.

Declaration of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 1976

A year into the conflict on the 26th of February 1976, the Polisario Front proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Although only a few hundred fighters existed at the point of proclamation this quickly changed. With Morocco and Mauritania making large gains the Sahrawi were forced to Tindouf in the lower corner of Algeria, where they established refugee camps they are still forced to live in today. With tens of thousands fleeing to Tindouf, the Polisario's military quickly grew to a few thousand. They waged a guerrilla war, with small targeted attacks on high value targets, disrupting the invasion. They were assisted through arms and training by both Algeria their strongest ally and Libya. These attacks were very damaging to both Mauritania and Morocco, and they showed the invading forces that they were not a peoples to be underestimated.

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Mauritania surrender 1979

In 1979, 4 years after the conflict begun, the Polisario front forced Mauritania to surrender. Their invasion from the South ended and Mauritania relinquished their claim over the nation. They also formally recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), since this occurred Mauritania have continue to recognise the SADR and have not since attempted any claim over the land.

The Berm is built 1980's

Morocco dealt a crushing blow to the SADR when they constructed the sand wall and signalled the decline of the Polisario's military gains. This divided the country in 2, with the occupied zone roughly 75% kept secure behind a 1,600 mile sand wall (the Berm). The remaining 25% is run by the Polisario and is known as the free zone. The wall itself took 7 years to build, and its surrounding area is covered in landmines causing countless civilian injuries and casualties. The Moroccan regime has also managed to control the resources of Western Sahara, as the occupied zone includes the entire coast of Western Sahara, land-locking the Sahrawi. A once nomadic people who rely on travelling and trading have had their culture and way of life shackled by a regime interested in nothing but power and profit. The Polisario did not lay down their arms here, and continued to raid through the Berm, unleashing a new model of guerrilla warfare.

The UN's betrayal begins 1991

After an increase in the conflicts casualties on both sides. A United Nations mission on Western Sahara (MINURSO), brokered a ceasefire and "agreement" between the Polisario and the Moroccan Regime. The ceasefire started on the 6th September 1991, both parties agreed to a suspension of armed conflict, due to the promise of a referendum to be held next year in 1992. 32 years on and this referendum has still failed to materialise. The main issue is the eligibility of voters. The Polisario rightly believe that only those who predate the occupation (and their descendants) should be eligible to vote. However the Moroccan regime believe settlers etc should be eligible to vote. This has caused a stalemate on the referendum since its promise in 1991. Unless the United Nations forces the implementation of the referendum then it is unlikely both parties will agree.

This has since caused a resuming of the conflict in recent years, after the Moroccan army broke the ceasefire. There are now countless drone strikes on civilians and Polisario staff from the Moroccan army.