Annexation of Western Sahara

However, on 14 August 1979, Mauritania renounced all territorial claims to Western Sahara and withdrew its troops, prompting Morocco to extend its annexation to formerly Mauritanian-controlled areas.

Likewise, the United Nations regards the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara as null and void, such that the territory is not a legal part of Morocco and it remains subject to the international guidelines for a military occupation.

[6] As Spain began the process of decolonization of Western Sahara, a number of international bodies were asked to opine on the territories' status.

[8] The Moroccan and Mauritanian annexations were resisted by the Polisario Front, primarily by guerrilla warfare, which had gained backing from Algeria.

[9] Following the occupation, on 14 April 1976, the Western Sahara partition agreement was signed to formalize the annexation and agree the borders between Morocco and Mauritania.