Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North-western Africa. It has a surface area of 272,000 square kilometres (105,000 sq mi). Approximately 30% of the territory is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); the remaining 70% is occupied and administered by neighboring Morocco. It is the most sparsely populated country in Africa and the second most sparsely populated country in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at 618,600. Nearly 40% of that population lives in Morocco-controlled Laayoune, the largest city of Western Sahara.
Some of the key events about Western Sahara
- 1884The Berlin Conference recognized Spanish claims to Western Sahara, establishing it as a Spanish protectorate
- 1884Western Sahara became a Spanish colony, beginning a period of foreign rule and exploitation
- 1947Large phosphate deposits were discovered in Western Sahara, boosting economic potential
- 1958Western Sahara was officially designated as a Spanish province, granting it representation in the Spanish parliament
- 1967A UN mission visited Western Sahara to assess the territory's readiness for decolonization
- 1973The Polisario Front was founded to campaign for independence from Spain
- 1975The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion supporting Western Sahara's right to self-determination
- 1975Morocco launched the "Green March", invading Western Sahara and sparking a long-running territorial dispute
- 1976The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) was proclaimed by the Polisario Front
- 1976The Polisario Front declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, leading to a guerrilla war against Moroccan forces
- 1979Mauritania signed a peace treaty with the Polisario Front, withdrawing its claims to Western Sahara
- 1980Morocco began construction of the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall, dividing the territory and displacing many Sahrawis
- 1991A UN-brokered ceasefire was established between Morocco and the Polisario Front
- 1991A ceasefire was declared, but the promised referendum on self-determination was repeatedly postponed
- 2001The Baker Plan for resolving the conflict was rejected by Morocco, prolonging the stalemate
- 2005Protests against Moroccan rule in Western Sahara were violently suppressed
- 2010The Gdeim Izik protest camp was forcibly dismantled by Moroccan security forces, resulting in casualties
- 2016Morocco expelled UN peacekeepers, escalating tensions in the region
- 2020The United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, marking a significant diplomatic development
- 2020Armed clashes resumed between Morocco and the Polisario Front, breaking the 29-year ceasefire
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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