Western Sahara

Disputed territory in North-western Africa

Follow Western Sahara on Notably News to receive short updates to your email — rarely!

We include updates on Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Bedouin, Almoravid dynasty, Laayoune, Arab migrations to the Maghreb, Algeria–Morocco relations, Tifariti, Saguia el-Hamra, Sahrawi refugee camps, Beni Ḥassān, La Güera, 27th parallel north, Río de Oro, Bir Lehlou, Greater Morocco, Guelmim-Oued Noun ... and more.

June 6 2025
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa declares the Moroccan autonomy plan as 'the only realistic and sustainable basis for a mutually agreed solution' to the Western Sahara dispute.
June 1 2025
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy endorses Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, describing it as the 'most credible, viable and pragmatic' solution to the conflict.
May 26 2025
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Kenya and Morocco issue a joint statement supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, with Kenya considering the autonomy plan as the only sustainable approach to resolving the conflict.
2024
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
A new international effort emerged with a UN envoy proposing division of the disputed territory between Morocco and Pro-Independent Western Sahara, which Polisario criticized for not fully addressing self-determination rights.
October 2024 French President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco's autonomy proposal in a speech to the Parliament of Morocco, and unveiled a €25 million investment in Guelmim-Oued Noun, which includes part of Western Sahara.
October 31 2024
United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara
UN Security Council Resolution 2756 extended the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2025, with Mozambique and Russia abstaining, and Algeria not participating
September 2024
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria imposed visa requirements on Moroccans and publicly accused Morocco of threatening its stability through 'Zionist espionage' and engaging in drug and human trafficking.
2023
Laayoune
City population recorded at 271,344 inhabitants, making it a significant urban center in Western Sahara.
December 15 2023 The Polisario Front conducted a military operation in the Aousserd Province, launching four explosive projectiles near the region. The projectiles were dropped away from residential areas and did not result in any casualties.
October 30 2023
United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara
UN Security Council Resolution 2703 extended the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2024, with Mozambique and Russia abstaining
October 29 2023 The Polisario Front conducted a military operation in Es Semara Province, launching four explosive projectiles that resulted in one Moroccan civilian killed and three injured.
October 2 2023
Gdeim Izik protest camp
United Nations calls for the release of Sahrawi independence demonstrators who were convicted and imprisoned in connection with the Gdeim Izik events.
September 8 2023
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria opened its airspace to Morocco for the first time since 2021 to facilitate humanitarian aid after the Marrakesh-Safi earthquake.
July 2023 Israel officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
May 9 2023
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Cape Verde reaffirmed support for Morocco's territorial integrity and autonomy plan as a realistic solution to the Western Sahara regional conflict.
March 2023
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared that relations with Morocco had reached a 'point of no return' due to continued provocations.
2022
Mijek
Established a twinning relationship with Ivry-sur-Seine, a municipality in Val-de-Marne, France.
October 27 2022
United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara
UN Security Council Resolution 2654 extended the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2023, with Kenya and Russia abstaining
September 27 2022
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algerian Minister of Justice Abderrachid Tabi met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat to hand over an invitation to the Arab League Summit.
September 23 2022
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Guatemala announced support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and plans to open a consulate in Dakhla, indicating diplomatic backing for Morocco's position.
September 23 2022
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Somalia's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Abdi Hassan reiterated support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, following previous diplomatic actions.
July 30 2022
Algeria–Morocco relations
During a speech on the 22nd anniversary of his accession to the throne, Mohammed VI called for a renewal of normal relations with Algeria.
March 22 2022
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
France reaffirmed its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan as a credible basis for resolving the Western Sahara territorial conflict.
March 19 2022
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Spanish and Moroccan press suggested the president of the Spanish Government had provisionally accepted the autonomy proposal, though parliamentary ratification was not assured.
March 18 2022
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious and realistic basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute, supporting Morocco's proposed solution.
November 1 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria accused Morocco of killing three truck drivers in a 'barbaric bombardment' during a commercial trip between countries in the area, claiming Moroccan occupation forces used sophisticated weaponry.
October 31 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria terminated the Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline (GME) contract, which expired at midnight, shifting natural gas exports to Spain and Portugal primarily through the Medgaz pipeline.
October 29 2021
United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara
UN Security Council Resolution 2602 extended the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2022, with Russia and Tunisia abstaining
September 22 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria's Supreme Security Council determined to close its airspace to all Moroccan civilian and military aircraft.
August 27 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
Morocco closed its embassy in Algiers, Algeria.
August 24 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco, accusing Morocco of supporting the Kabylia separatist movement.
August 18 2021
Algeria–Morocco relations
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune chaired an extraordinary meeting of the High Council of Security to review Algeria's relations with Morocco and ordered intensification of border security controls.
June 12 2021
William L. Swing
William Lacy Swing passed away on this date.
February 2021 Morocco proposed to Spain the creation of an autonomy for Western Sahara under the sovereignty of the King of Morocco.
January 2021 United States establishes a temporary consulate post in Dakhla as part of the Moroccan-Israeli normalization deal, with plans to establish a permanent consulate in the future.
2020
Settlement Plan
The original cease-fire agreement from the Settlement Plan was set to expire after nearly three decades of maintaining a suspended state of conflict.
2020
Dakhla, Western Sahara
Multiple African countries (The Gambia, Guinea, Djibouti, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) opened consulates in Dakhla.
2020
Settlement Plan
The long-standing ceasefire was ended after Morocco launched a military operation near Guerguerat.
December 2020
Algeria–Morocco relations
Algeria opposed the normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel.
December 10 2020
Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal
US President Donald Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, marking a significant diplomatic shift in the region's long-standing territorial dispute.
December 10 2020 The United States announced recognition of full Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, in exchange for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel and establishing potential diplomatic ties.
November 2020 The ceasefire between the Polisario Front and Morocco broke down, resulting in armed clashes between both sides.
October 30 2020
United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara
UN Security Council Resolution 2548 unanimously extended the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2021
January 2020
Laayoune
Gabon opened a general consulate in Laayoune.
January 2020 The Gambia and Guinea open consulates in Dakhla, while Gabon opens a consulate general in Laayoune, further supporting Morocco's territorial claims.

We are only showing the most recent entries for this topic.

This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles William L. Swing, List of United Nations resolutions concerning Western Sahara, Dakhla, Western Sahara, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Algeria–Morocco relations, Mijek, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune, Western Sahara, Gdeim Izik protest camp, Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal, Geography of Western Sahara & Settlement Plan, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

See Also