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Abstract
The conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front/SADR (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic) also known as the Western Sahara Conflict is one of the long lasting conflicts in the world. The conflict drew less international attention due to geographical location of Western Sahara region at least till Morocco’s Green March in 1975. Basically, it is a territorial conflict between Morocco, the SADR, and Mauritania (till 1979) over the territory of Western Sahara. Beside these main parties, regional and international parties mainly Algeria, Libya, Spain, France and USA played a significant role in the conflict.
The nature of the conflict is very complex not only in terms of territory’s historical claims but also in defining the legal status of the territory. There are mainly two contradictory positions; Morocco claims its legal right over the territory because of Moroccan King’s historical ties with the tribal chiefs of the Western Sahara region where as various international bodies including the UNO and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) acknowledged no such evident of historical ties thus being an indigenous organisation of Saharawi people, Polisario claims its sovereignty over the territory. The aim of this study is to examine the role of Spain in the evolution of Western Sahara Conflict being a colonial power.