Morocco's Royal Archives Rekindle Eastern Sahara Territorial Dispute

Wednesday 13 March 2024 - 09:16

Morocco's age-old territorial claims over the mineral-rich Eastern Sahara region have surged back into the limelight, reigniting the long-standing border dispute with neighboring Algeria. Bahija Simou, custodian of Morocco's Royal Archives, asserts that Rabat possesses irrefutable historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over the contested areas of Tindouf, Adrar, and Bechar, currently under Algerian control.

In a recent conference broadcast on national television, Simou's revelations coincided with the thawing of relations between Morocco and France, the former colonial power accused of carving out the Eastern Sahara from Moroccan territory and incorporating it into Algeria. This strategic timing has fueled speculation that Morocco may be leveraging its newfound closeness with France to exert pressure on Algiers and secure explicit recognition of its claims over Sahara.

Delving into the annals of history, Simou unveiled a trove of diplomatic exchanges dating back to the post-independence era. In 1956 and 1957, France sought to negotiate a resolution to the Eastern Sahara border issue, even proposing the return of Tindouf to Moroccan control. However, the late King Mohammed V rebuffed the offer, unwilling to betray the Algerian independence fighters and opting instead to resolve the matter amicably with his "Algerian brothers" after their liberation from French rule.

This noble stance, Simou asserted, embodied Morocco's unwavering commitment to principles of neighborliness, Islamic brotherhood, and the deep-rooted tribal ties binding the two nations. A few years later, in 1961, King Hassan II and Ferhat Abbas, the head of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic, acknowledged the existence of a border problem and agreed to initiate negotiations promptly upon Algeria's independence.

However, skirmishes along the contested frontier in 1963 escalated into the brief but intense "Sand War," a conflict ultimately defused through mediation by the Arab League and the Organization of African Unity. Despite a 1972 treaty between the two nations, the border dispute remained unresolved, further exacerbated by the Sahara issue conflict that erupted in 1975 when Morocco launched the "Green March" to liberate the territory from Spanish colonial rule.

Tensions reached a boiling point in 1994 when a hotel bombing in Marrakech, allegedly perpetrated by Algerian militants, prompted Morocco to impose visa requirements on Algerians. Retaliating, Algeria sealed its land borders with its neighbor, a measure that remains in effect to this day.

Undeterred by the strained relations, Simou steadfastly maintained that Morocco's royal archives contain a wealth of documentation substantiating the kingdom's historical sovereignty over the Saharan region. She highlighted the unwavering allegiance of the Sahrawi tribes to the Alaouite sultans and kings, tracing the key stages and documents that attest to Moroccan control over these southern territories.

From the economic significance of the Sahara in controlling lucrative gold trade routes and commercial hubs like Sijilmassa and Aghmat, to the security enjoyed by trade caravans traversing the region under Moroccan sovereignty, Simou painted a vivid picture of the Sahara's pivotal role in shaping the country's history.

She further underscored the prominence of the Sahara during the Alaouite dynasty since the 17th century, citing documents confirming the existence of allegiance pacts (Beia) between Sahrawi tribes and the Alaouite sultans and kings.

Addressing the colonial era's impact on Morocco's territorial integrity, Simou noted how the Sahara region attracted the covetous ambitions of colonial powers, sparking rivalries among traders and drawing explorers and missionaries to serve political and economic aims. Yet, she assured, the Moroccan Makhzen and Sahrawi tribes responded resolutely to these attempts, bolstered by the Alaouite sultans' efforts to safeguard the kingdom's unity.

In her conclusion, Simou emphasized that under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues to solidify its sovereignty over the southern provinces, buoyed by growing international support for the "Moroccanness" of the Sahara.

As Morocco's historical claims over the Eastern Sahara regain prominence, the international community, particularly France, finds itself at a critical juncture. The response to Rabat's assertions will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of this long-standing territorial dispute, with far-reaching implications for regional stability and economic cooperation between the two North African neighbors.