The Saguia el-Hamra and Wadi al-Dahab Problem and its Repercussions on Neighboring Countries

Abstract

The Western Sahara conflict is a complex regional and international issue deeply intertwined with the history of Northwest Africa and the region's strategic and geographical importance. Its location connecting Africa and Europe, coupled with the richness of its coastline in fisheries due to its natural, mineral, and water resources, made it a target of interest and competition among colonial powers since the late 19th century. The region has been subject to numerous external ambitions and interventions, beginning with the Spanish and Portuguese rivalry during the Age of Exploration and culminating in the Spanish-French rivalry during the colonial era.

The issue became even more complex following Spain's withdrawal from the territory in 1975 and the subsequent Madrid Agreement, which transferred administration to Morocco and Mauritania. Mauritania withdrew from the conflict in 1979, leaving the dispute primarily between Morocco and the Polisario Front until 1991. Since then, the issue has entered a phase characterized by the absence of a final settlement, while international efforts continue to find a political solution that will determine the region's future, particularly through the efforts of the United Nations and the African Union

Given the geopolitical nature of the issue and the intertwining of its historical, regional, and international dimensions, this study examines the roots of the conflict in Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro, the positions of neighboring countries on the issue, and international stances on it, with the aim of analyzing the factors that have contributed to the continuation of the conflict and the difficulty in reaching a final settlement.