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Self-Determination In The Western Sahara: Obstacles And Obligations, Léa Gervais Glaenzer

Senior Projects Spring 2021

This paper aims to investigate the story of a country that was colonized by Spain, abandoned by Madrid, and subsequently claimed by Morocco. Spanish Sahara, now known as Western Sahara, is the territory in question. When Spanish Sahara was left by Spain to fend for itself in 1975, King Hassan of Morocco claimed sovereignty over it. King Hassan saw a potential “Greater Morocco”, which, in his view, encompassed Morocco-proper and the former Spanish Sahara. Since becoming recognized as a non-self-governing territory, most of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco and much of its native population resides in Tindouf refugee …