What is the status of western Sahara?

Western Sahara is a disputed territory claimed by both Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The territory is mainly controlled by Morocco, which considers it to be its southern provinces, while the SADR controls a small area in the east. The SADR is recognized by a number of African and Latin American countries, but not by Morocco or the United Nations.

The conflict between Morocco and the SADR dates back to the 1970s, when Morocco annexed the territory after Spain withdrew its colonial administration. The SADR was proclaimed in 1976 by the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi nationalist movement.

The conflict has been ongoing for decades, with no resolution in sight. The Moroccan government has proposed an autonomy plan for Western Sahara, but this plan has been rejected by the Polisario Front. The Polisario Front has called for a referendum on the future of Western Sahara, but this has been opposed by Morocco.

The United Nations has been involved in the conflict since the 1980s, and has called for a referendum on the future of Western Sahara. However, no referendum has been held, and the conflict remains unresolved.

In recent years, there have been renewed efforts to resolve the conflict. In 2016, the United States and Morocco signed an agreement on cooperation in Western Sahara. In 2018, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for a resumption of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

However, the conflict remains unresolved, and there is no clear path to a peaceful solution.