|
1400s |
Nomadic tribes from Yemen arrive in the area of Western Sahara. |
1400-1700s |
Spain begins exploratory raids in the area, resident tribes fight them off. |
Late 1700s |
Treaties are signed by the Spaniards and the Moroccans; intensity of fighting diminishes. |
1884 |
Spain claims the area of Western Sahara as a protectorate. |
1900 |
1900 Franco-Spanish Convention defines the southern border of Spain’s Sahrawi colony. |
1912 |
Spanish-French Convention further defines the borders. |
1923-34 |
French forces make headway into Morocco and Mauritania; Western Sahrawi tribesmen resist, leading to a deal between France and Spain to stamp out Sahrawi resistance. |
1936 |
Spain takes full possession of the northern part of the territory. |
1950s |
Large deposits of high-grade phosphates are discovered in Bucraa. |
1956-1958 |
Sahrawi resistance fighters continue to battle Spain. |
1958 |
An agreement between Spain, France, and Morocco results in a weakening of the Sahrawi liberation army. Further agreements put the area of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro under the authority of Spain. |
1961 |
Western Sahara declared a “Spanish province.” |
1963 |
The U.N. places Western Sahara on the list of countries to be decolonized by resolution 1514. |
1966 |
U.N. ratifies the Sahrawi people’s right to self-rule. |
1968 |
The Sahrawi resistance movement reforms as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO Front). |
1973 |
The POLISARIO Front begins attacks against Spain. |
1975 |
Spain pulls out of Western Sahara, Moroccan and Mauritanian forces invade, POLISARIO Front forces defend their positions and stage attacks. |
1976 |
POLISARIO Front declares the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which now serves as a government in exile. Thousands of refugees leave Western Sahara. |
1982 |
Organization of African Unity (OAU) admits SADR as a full-fledged member. |
1987 |
Construction — which began in 1980 — is completed on the Moroccan wall that protects occupation forces from POLISARIO attack. |
1988 |
Morocco and POLISARIO Front accept U.N. peace plan. |
1991 |
A U.N. brokered cease-fire is signed between Western Sahara and Morocco. Morocco sends settlers into the area. |
1992 |
The U.N.-brokered referendum on statehood is delayed following disputes about who is eligible. |
1997 |
James A. Baker III is appointed as U.N. Envoy to Western Sahara. |
2004 |
James Baker resigns as U.N. Envoy in June of 2004. He is replaced by Peruvian diplomat Álvaro de Soto. |