Western Sahara conflict
Polisario troops.jpg
Gathering of Sahrawi troops, near Tifariti (Western Sahara), celebrating the 32nd anniversary to the Polisario Front (2005).
Date17 June 1970 – present
(52 years, 1 week and 3 days)
Location
Western Sahara
Result

Ongoing

  • Annexation of Western Sahara by the Morocco and Mauritania
  • Western Sahara War (1975–1991)
  • Mauritania's withdrawal of Western Sahara (1979)
  • First Sahrawi Intifada (1999–2004)
  • Second Sahrawi Intifada (2005)
  • Moroccan Western Sahara Wall sand wall built by the Morocco
  • Protests erupt against the Morocco in Western Sahara (2011)
  • Western Saharan clashes (2020–present) end ceasefire
Belligerents

Francoist SpainSpain(1970–1975)


 Morocco
 Mauritania(1975–79)
Supported by:
 France(1977–78)
 United States
 Saudi Arabia
Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicSahrawi Republic
Supported by:
 Algeria(1976–)
 Libya(1976–1984)
Commanders and leaders

SpainFrancisco Franco #(1970–75)


MoroccoMohammed VI(1999–present)
MoroccoHassan II #(1970–99)
MoroccoAhmed Dlimi #(1970–83)
MoroccoAbdelaziz Bennani(1983–2014)
MoroccoBouchaib Arroub(2014–17)
MoroccoAbdelfattah Louarak(2017–present)
MauritaniaMokhtar Ould Daddah(1970–78)
MauritaniaMustafa Ould Salek(1978–79)
FranceValéry Giscard d'Estaing(1977–78)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicBrahim Ghali(2016–present)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicMohamed Abdelaziz #(1976–2016)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicEl-Ouali Mustapha Sayed (1976)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicLahbib Ayoub
AlgeriaHouari Boumediène #(1970–78)
Strength

Spain3,000 troops(1973)


Morocco30,000(1976)
150,000(1988)
Mauritania3,000–5,000(1976)
18,000(1978)
5,000(1976)
Casualties and losses
unknown
2,155–2,300 captured
Mauritania2,000 soldiers killed
unknown
Total:14,000–21,000 killed overall
40,000(1976); 80,000(1977)refugees