Editing History of Morocco (section)

===Western Sahara conflict (1974–1991)===
{{main|History of Western Sahara}}
[[File:Western_sahara_map_showing_morocco_and_polisaro.gif|200px|thumb|Status quo in [[Western Sahara]] since 1991 cease-fire: most under Moroccan control ([[Southern Provinces]]), with inner Polisario-controlled areas forming the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|Sahrawi Arab Republic]].]]
The Spanish [[enclave]] of [[Ifni]] in the south became part of the new state of Morocco in 1969, but other Spanish possessions in the north, including [[Ceuta]], [[Melilla]] and [[Plaza de soberanía]], remained under Spanish control, with Morocco viewing them as [[military occupation|occupied]] territory.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-12-14|title=Ceuta, Melilla profile|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14114627|access-date=2021-03-19}}</ref>

In August 1974, Spain formally acknowledged the 1966 United Nations (UN) resolution calling for a referendum on the future status of Western Sahara and requested that a [[plebiscite]] be conducted under UN supervision. A [[United Nations visiting mission to Spanish Sahara|UN visiting mission]] reported in October 1975 that an overwhelming majority of the Saharan people desired independence. Morocco protested the proposed referendum and took its case to the [[International Court of Justice]] at [[The Hague]], which ruled that despite historical "ties of allegiance" between Morocco and the tribes of Western Sahara, there was no legal justification for departing from the UN position on self-determination. Spain, meanwhile, had declared that even in the absence of a referendum, it intended to surrender political control of Western Sahara, and Spain, Morocco, and [[Mauritania]] convened a [[Madrid Accords|tripartite conference]] to resolve the territory's future. Spain also announced that it was opening independence talks with the Algerian-backed Saharan independence movement known as the [[Polisario Front]].<ref name="LOCprof" />

In early 1976, Spain ceded the administration of Western Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco assumed control over the northern two-thirds of the territory and conceded the remaining portion in the south to Mauritania. An assembly of Saharan tribal leaders duly acknowledged Moroccan sovereignty. However, buoyed by the increasing defection of tribal chiefs to its cause, the Polisario drew up a constitution and announced the formation of the [[Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic]] (SADR), and itself formed [[government-in-exile]].<ref name="LOCprof" />

The Moroccan government eventually sent a large portion of its combat forces into Western Sahara to confront the Polisario's forces, which were relatively small but well-equipped, highly mobile, and resourceful. The Polisario used Algerian bases for quick strikes against targets deep inside Morocco and Mauritania, as well as for operations in Western Sahara. In August 1979, after suffering military losses, Mauritania renounced its claim to Western Sahara and signed a peace treaty with the Polisario. In 1984, Morocco withdrew from the [[Organisation of African Unity]] due to the admission of the SADR as a member.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kazeem |first=Yomi |date=2017-01-31 |title=Morocco has rejoined the African Union after a 33-year absence |url=https://qz.com/africa/898645/morocco-has-rejoined-the-african-union-but-the-western-sahara-question-remains |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> Morocco then annexed the entire territory and, in 1985 built a [[Moroccan Wall|2,500-kilometer sand berm]] around three-quarters of Western Sahara.<ref name="LOCprof" />

In 1988, Morocco and the Polisario Front agreed on a United Nations (UN) peace plan, and a cease-fire and settlement plan went into effect in 1991. Even though the UN Security Council created a [[peacekeeping]] force to implement a referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara, it has yet to be held, periodic negotiations have failed, and the status of the territory remains unresolved.<ref name="LOCprof" />

The war against the Polisario guerrillas put severe strains on the economy, and Morocco found itself increasingly isolated diplomatically. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s culminated in the constitutional reform of 1996, which created a new bicameral legislature with expanded, although still limited, powers. Elections for the Chamber of Representatives were held in 1997, reportedly marred by irregularities.<ref name="LOCprof" />