Title page
Contents
Summary 5
1. UK Government position 7
2. Brief history: 1960s to 2010s 9
2.1. 1960s: Spain urged to decolonise and organise a referendum 9
2.2. 1970s: Spain withdraws, conflict begins 9
2.3. 1980s: Conflict continues 11
2.4. 1990s: Ceasefire, UN Mission established 11
2.5. 2000s: Morocco suggests autonomy 11
2.6. 2010s: UN facilitated talks, no outcome 12
3. 2020s: Recent developments 13
3.1. End of the ceasefire 13
3.2. US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty 13
3.3. Israel normalises relations with Morocco 14
3.4. Biden Administration policy 15
3.5. Elections in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara 15
3.6. EU agriculture and fisheries agreements annulled 15
3.7. Moroccan King reaffirms claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara 16
3.8. Spain supports Morocco's autonomy proposal 16
3.9. Ghali re-elected president of SADR 17
3.10. New UN Security Council resolution 17
3.11. Prospects for talks in 2023/24 18
4. Further reading 20