Western Sahara
Africa's last colony, divided by conflict and stalled decolonization.
Western Sahara is a United Nations–designated non-self-governing territory in north-western Africa. It has a surface area of 272,000 square kilometres (105,000 sq mi). Western Sahara is the last African colonial state yet to achieve independence and has been dubbed "Africa's last colony." With an estimated 600,000 inhabitants, it is the most sparsely populated territory in Africa and the second most sparsely populated territory in the world after Greenland, consisting mainly of desert flatlands. Francoist Spain previously colonized the territory as the Spanish Sahara until 1975–1976. Spain attempted to transfer its administration to Morocco and Mauritania despite an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that those countries had no sovereignty over Western Sahara; a war erupted and the pro-independence Polisario Front proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). A UN-sponsored ceasefire agreement was reached in 1991, though a planned referendum monitored by the UN's MINURSO mission has since stalled.
- area
- 272,000 sq km
- population
- ~600,000
- status
- Non-self-governing territory
- colonized_by
- Francoist Spain (Spanish Sahara)
- claimed_by
- Morocco and Polisario Front (SADR)
- ceasefire_year
- 1991
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The earliest known inhabitants of Western Sahara were the Gaetuli. Depending on the century, Roman-era sources describe the area as inhabited by Gaetulian Autololes or the Gaetulian Daradae tribes. Other early inhabitants may be the Bafour and later the Serer. The Bafour were later replaced or absorbed by Berber-speaking populations, which eventually merged with the migrating Beni Ḥassān Arab tribes. The arrival of Islam in the 8th century played a major role in the development of the Maghreb region. In the 11th century, the Maqil Arabs (fewer than 200 individuals) settled in Morocco. Towards the end of the Almohad Caliphate, the Beni Hassan, a sub-tribe of the Maqil, were called by the local ruler of the Sous to quell a rebellion; they settled in the Sous Ksours and controlled cities such as Taroudant. During Marinid dynasty rule, the Beni Hassan rebelled but were defeated by the Sultan and escaped beyond the Saguia el-Hamra dry river. Over roughly five centuries, through a complex process of acculturation and mixing, some indigenous Berber tribes mixed with the Maqil Arab tribes and formed a culture unique to Morocco and Mauritania.
Reader's Guide
Western Sahara's significance lies in its status as the last African colonial state yet to achieve independence. The Spanish presence lasted from 1884 to 1975. Spain seized control in 1884 after the Berlin Conference, but could not pacify the interior until joint Spanish and French forces subdued the territory in 1934. In 1958, Spain formed the province of Spanish Sahara. By 1974–75 the government issued promises of a referendum on independence. On 31 October 1975, Moroccan troops invaded Western Sahara from the north, and on 6 November 1975 Morocco initiated the Green March—350,000 unarmed Moroccans converged on Tarfaya. Spain signed a tripartite agreement with Morocco and Mauritania on 14 November 1975, transferring administration. Morocco took the northern two-thirds as its Southern Provinces; Mauritania took the southern third as Tiris al-Gharbiyya. The Polisario Front resisted with guerrilla warfare, and Mauritania withdrew in 1979 after pressure including a bombardment of its capital. Morocco extended control to the rest of the territory, building the Berm, a 2,700 km-long wall lined with land mines. Hostilities ceased in a 1991 cease-fire overseen by MINURSO. The referendum, originally scheduled for 1992, stalled. In 1997, the Houston Agreement attempted to revive the proposal but likewise has not had success. As of 2010, negotiations have not resulted in any substantive action.
Did You Know?
- Western Sahara is the most sparsely populated territory in Africa and the second most sparsely populated in the world after Greenland.
- The Berm is a 2,700 km-long wall lined with land mines that splits the territory, with Morocco controlling 70% and the Polisario Front 30%.
- The Polisario Front is recognized by the UN as the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara and is primarily supported by Algeria.
- The Green March of 6 November 1975 involved 350,000 unarmed Moroccans converging on Tarfaya.
- The SADR has received partial international recognition and membership in the African Union.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is a UN-listed non-self-governing territory in north-western Africa, spanning 272,000 square kilometres. It is home to roughly 600,000 people, making it the least densely populated territory on the continent.
Who claims Western Sahara?
Morocco asserts sovereignty over the territory, while the Polisario Front, which declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), demands full independence. The dispute traces back to the end of Spanish colonial rule, when the region was known as Spanish Sahara under Franco's regime.
Why do people call Western Sahara 'Africa's last colony'?
The label reflects the fact that its decolonization process was never completed after Spain withdrew. Unlike other former African colonies, Western Sahara has remained stuck in contested sovereignty rather than achieving a clear, universally recognized status.
What happened with the 1991 ceasefire?
A UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991 halted active fighting between Moroccan forces and the Polisario Front. It was originally meant to pave the way for a self-determination referendum, but that vote has never taken place, leaving the territory in a prolonged stalemate.
How does Western Sahara's story end?
As of the current canon, it doesn't — the territory remains in a frozen conflict with no definitive resolution. The UN still lists it as non-self-governing, and the question of whether it becomes part of Morocco, an independent SADR, or something else remains officially unanswered.
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