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A timeline of the Saharawi struggle

1884

Colonial Spanish Authorities granted control over Western Sahara by the Berlin Conference​​

1965

UN calls for Western Sahara to be decolonised

1974

Colonial Spanish government announce the intention to hold an independence referendum in Western Sahara in 1975

Morocco and Mauritania issue sovereignty claims to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to be evaluated

1963

UN places ‘Spanish Sahara’ on its list of known colonies​​

1973

​​The Frente Para la Liberación de Saguia Al Hamra y Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) is
founded to obtain independence for Western Sahara. It begins raids against colonial Spanish forces

1975- The Modern Occupation begins

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October 16th - ICJ Advisory Opinion issued. Moroccan and Mauritanian sovereignty claims are denied, Saharawi rights to independence and self-determination are again reaffirmed

October 31st -  Moroccan troops cross the border and clash with Polisario forces 

November 6th -   The “Green March” (Al Massira) takes place.

● 350,000 Moroccans march a few kilometres across the border into Western Saharan territory as a form of mass demonstration.


● Organised by the Moroccan state, the march advanced calls to ‘return the Moroccan Sahara” and carried photographs of King Hassan II, the Qur’an, and the colour green as a symbol of Islam.

● The march forces Spain to enter into negotiations with Morocco, as the alternative is
firing on Moroccan civilians attempting to cross the border

November 14th -  Franco, on his deathbed, signs a tripartite administration deal through the Madrid Accords, which cedes control of Western Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania

December 11th -  Moroccan troops arrive in El Aaiún (Laayoune). Fighting occurs between Polisario and Moroccan forces​​​​​

© Andoni Lubaki

Declaration of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic  1976

A year into the conflict on the 26th of February 1976, the Polisario Front proclaimed the Saharawi 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 and Spain completing its withdrawal the Saharawi were forced to Tindouf in the lower corner of Algeria, where they established refugee camps. They are still forced to live there 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. These attacks were very damaging to both Mauritania and Morocco, and they showed the invading forces that they were not a people to be underestimated.

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© Andoni Lubaki

Mauritania surrender   1979

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

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© Andoni Lubaki

The Berm is built in the 1980s

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© Andoni Lubaki

Morocco dealt a blow to the Polisario when they constructed the sand wall and signalled the decline of the Polisario's military gains. This divided the country in two, 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 seven 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 Saharawi. 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 and continued to raid through the Berm, unleashing a new model of guerrilla warfare. 

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1984

The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) becomes the 43rd member states of the African Union (AU),  Morocco resign from the AU in protest and only rejoins in 2017

MINURSO begins in hope

© Andoni Lubaki

After an increase in the conflict's casualties on both sides. The United Nations 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. This process would be implemented by the UN mission for a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). But 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.

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The promise of a referendum breaks down

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1991 -  MINURSO mandate establishes the Identification Commission (IDC) to determine eligible voters for the upcoming referendum, the Polisario and Morocco begin to debate voter eligibility

1994 - IDC launches identification process

1995 -  Identification process stalls after parties pull out over political grievances and contestation over vetting certain applicants. Human Rights Watch report determines that Morocco is obstructing and compromising the fairness of the referendum process, by preventing impartial and transparent voter identification

1996 -  Identification process is suspended. Civilian police component of MINURSO is withdrawn, and military component reduced

1997 - March

James A. Baker III is appointed as the personal envoy of the UN
secretary-general for Western Sahara

1997 - September


Houston Accords is signed between both Morocco and Polisario, you can see this document here

2000 - September

Moroccan delegation denounces the settlement plan during talks in Berlin

1997 - June

Direct talks between Morocco and Polisario begin in Lisbon

1999 - December

Voter identification concludes. 86,368 applicants are found eligible to vote.

Results represent a victory for Western Saharan independence, as they almost
guarantee the referendum outcome

2001 - June

Baker plan I submitted to UN security council, rejected by Polisario as does not guarantee a referendum

2002 - June

Security Council adopts resolution 1429 stating it would accept any proposal by
the personal envoy that provides for self-determination

Baker plan II submitted, provides autonomy for 4-5 years with the guarantee of a referendum at the end. Accepted by the Polisario but rejected by Morocco. View the plan here

2003 - May

2003 - July

Baker plan III is submitted, accepted by the Polisario and rejected by Morocco. 

2004

James Baker III resigns as personal envoy to Western Sahara. Alvera De Soto is appointed head of MINURSO, and takes over the diplomatic process

2005 - November

King Mohammed VI of Morocco announces the start of a consultation process on granting autonomy to Western Sahara

2007 - April 

Morocco submits its autonomy plan for Western Sahara - the “Moroccan
Initiative for Negotiating an Autonomy Statute for the Sahara Region”

Polisario presents a “Proposal for a Mutually Acceptable Political Solution that Provides for the Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara”

A new round of talks begin between Morocco and Polisario 
 

Polisario insists on a referendum that includes an independence option, Morocco insists on self-determination options being limited to autonomy

2007 - June 

2008

Human Rights Watch publishes reports on the situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, view the report here

Sahrawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidir is arrested on her return home to al-’Ayun, detained and illegally deported to the Canary Islands. Read Amnesty's report of this incident here

2009 

Gdeim Izik Protest- the true beginning of the Arab Spring

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© Kirby Gookin

In October 2010 a group of Saharawi activists set up Gdeim Izik protest camp, just 12 km south east of El Aaiun (Laayoune), Morocco's administrative capital in the occupied Western Sahara. The numbers of protesters quickly grew from a few hundred to a few thousand in the first few weeks. Naom Chomsky often claimed the Arab Spring did not begin in Tunisia but begun in Gdeim Izik. The number of protesters quickly grew to 5,000 strong with many calling for human rights protections and even for an independent Western Sahara. On the 8th November, 1 month after its construction, the Moroccan army and police stormed the camp and dismantled it. 3,000 Saharawi were arrested, 36 Saharawi were murdered by Moroccan forces and a further 1,200 were injured, Morocco obviously dispute these figures and offer much lower numbers. Many of those arrested still remain in Moroccan jails on arbitrary accusations and have often been condemned as illegal detentions. Western Sahara Resource Watch offer a detailed explanation here

Mariem Hassan an amazing musician and activist from Western Sahara who is often seen as the mother of all Saharawi produced a beautiful song about the protest camp which you can view to the left. Unfortunately she passed away in 2015 due to bone cancer having never seen a free Western Sahara.

2013

Following Special Envoy Ross’ tour of the Group of Friends of Western Sahara (France, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the US) to build international support, a statement is issued in support of mediation efforts to pursue a political solution

2015

Following several Security Council consultations, Special Envoy Ross briefs that the negotiation attempts to pursue a political solution remain in stalemate.

Observation is made that Polisario is ready to engage in talks, but
further preparation is required for Morocco

2011-2012

Multiple rounds of informal talks occur between the Polisario and Morocco

2014

Resolution 2152 is adopted by the UN, which encourages parties to take measures to promote and protect human rights in Western Sahara and Tindouf refugee camps

2016 - 2019

Multiple UN meetings and discussions take place but no movement and no progress, a true stalemate

Guergureat border protest

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© BBC

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In October 2020, Saharawi civilians staged a protest at the Guerguerat border crossing. This was in response to the Moroccan state having broken the terms of the ceasefire. For a while they had been conducting illegal border crossings near Guerguerat, allowing trucks to travel through the berm to  Mauritania. The berm is deemed a neutral zone by the UN and the ceasefire, to allow movement through this zone is to break the agreement.

The protest aimed to highlight Morocco’s exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources, and highlight how Moroccan plans to make the crossing easier through roadworks effectively violated the 1991 ceasefire agreement. In November 2020 Morocco issues an ultimatum that it would remove protesters by military force if they did not voluntarily withdraw. The Polisario issues an ultimatum that if Moroccan forces cross the UN ceasefire zone, it would consider the ceasefire voided and forces would respond accordingly.

 

On 13th November 2020 Moroccan forces enter the UN buffer zone to remove protesters. Polisario forces declare an end to the ceasefire, and launch attacks against Moroccan military positions along the berm. And so after 29 years the ceasefire broke and the conflict has resumed. 

© Algeria Press Service

Donald Trump ignores international law

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On the 10th December 2020, US President Trump announces US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Moroccan normalisation of relations with Israel. The Polisario condemn the announcement, declaring it a violation of the UN charter. The UN and several countries reaffirm their neutrality on the question of Western Sahara. This announcement was not received well by the international community. Donald Trump confirmed his lack of care for international and empathy  and only emboldened the cruel occupation: all in pursuit of political points and financial gain.  To date the only two countries that recognise Western Sahara as a Moroccan region are the United States and Israel.

2021 - October

Staffan de Mistura appointed Personal Envoy to the Secretary General for Western Sahara

2021 - August

Algeria severs diplomatic ties with Morocco following Pegasus Scandal, where Israeli spyware found on Algerian officials’ phones led to accusations that Morocco was conducting espionage operations

2022

Sahrawi People's Liberation Army (SPLA) continue to strike Moroccan military positions along the Berm

Western Sahara Campaign UK's latest legal battles

February 2015 – Western Sahara Campaign UK brings action in the UK High Court against Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HRMC) and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), due to trade agreements made between the European Union and Morocco illegally including Western Sahara as Morocccan

October 2015 – The UK High Court refers the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (case C-266/16). The UK Judge stated: “I conclude that there is an arguable case of a manifest error by the Commission in understanding and applying international law relevant to these agreements.”

February 2018 - The Court of Justice of the European Union judges the agreement inapplicable to Western Sahara. You can read the court ruling here.

March 2019 - The 
UK High Court confirms the EU ruling, and concludes that the UK government has acted unlawfully in granting preferential tariff treatment to products from Western Sahara through a deal with Morocco, and in granting fisheries quotas for fishing in Western Sahara under a fish deal with Morocco. This ruling still stands under European Law. 

December 2019 - The UK and Morocco sign the UK-Morocco Association Agreement (UKMAA), this broadly replicates the previous European Moroccan trade agreement that the ECJ ruled invalid in including Western Sahara

January 2020 - The UK officially leaves the European Union (Brexit)

March 2021 - WSCUK issued judicial review proceedings against the Department for International Trade and the Treasury in respect of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement and its inclusion of Western Saharan goods as Moroccan 

October 2022 - WSCUK's court case is heard in the UK's high court in London 

December 2022 - The UK high court throws out the case and argues that trade agreements between nations are subject to government policy and not international law, this came at a great surprise to everyone. This ruling can be read here

WSCUK appealed this decision, but disappointingly the Court of Appeals would not hear this. . 

 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Volker Turk) emphasises the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination as a central aspect of the settlement process

2023 - October

Algeria and the United Kingdom reaffirm commitment to achieving political solution through UN efforts in a joint communique

2023 - November 

UN adopts Resolution 78/85 on the question of Western Sahara, reaffirming its responsibility towards the Saharawi people and calling on the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to consider Western Sahara as a ‘territory subject to decolonisation’

2023 - December 

FCDO written response to question submitted by MP Jeremy Corbyn reaffirms support for the right of the Sahrawi People to Self Determination

2024 - February

The Polisario win an historic court case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The ECJ ruled that a trade agreement between the EU and Morocco was invalid in including Western Saharan goods as Moroccan. The court ruled that goods from Western Sahara could not be trade to the EU without consent from the representatives of the Saharawi, the Polisario Front. The court also ruled that any goods from Western Sahara must be labelled as such and not labelled ass a region of area of Morocco, but as Western Sahara as a country.  More can be read here. 

2024 - October

2023 - September

UN Personal Envoy to the Secretary General (Staffan de Mistura) articulates commitment to further peace efforts following visits to occupied El Aaiun and Dakhla

2023 - November 

Sahrawi People's Liberation Army (SPLA) continue to strike Moroccan military positions along the Berm, and mark the three year anniversary of resumed conflict

2024 - January

FCDO submits written response to calls from Western Sahara APPG Chairman
(MP Ben Lake) for the UK to place pressure on Morocco to release Saharawi
political prisoners.  Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and
Cooperation (David Routley) confirms UK government’s commitment to
protect human rights in all areas of the world, including in Morocco and Western Sahara

2024 - May

Polisario Front’s representative to the UN (Sidi Mohamed Omar) states that the basis for political solution in Western Sahara lies in the Sahrawi people’s ability to exercise the right to self-determination and independence

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