United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
  
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Milestones of the conflict
  • 20 December 1975: Mauritanian troops take over the cities of Tichla and La Güera (South of the Territory).
  • 27-29 January 1976 – First battle of Amgala between Moroccan and POLISARIO forces. Rabat denounces the presence, besides POLISARIO, of Algerian units. Algeria denies the allegations.
  • 26 February 1976: Spain officially withdraws from the Territory.
  • 27 February 1976: POLISARIO proclaims the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Bir Lahlou. In Morocco-controlled Laayoune, a newly constituted djemaa votes for the integration of the Territory into Morocco.
  • 14 April 1976: Morocco and Mauritania divide the Territory. Mauritania receive the southern third (Dakhla region) and Morocco the northern two thirds (Laayoune, Boujdour and Smara regions).
  • May 1976: The first refugee camps are established in Tindouf, Algeria.
  • October-November 1977: Operation Lamantine. French air and special forces launch an operation in support of Mauritania against POLISARIO. French troops will remain in Mauritania until 1980.
  • August 1978: Military escalation between POLISARIO, Mauritanian and Moroccan forces.
  • 1 August 1979: Gen. Lahbib Ayoub, leading a POLISARIO brigade, approaches Nouakchott and demands the unconditional surrender of Mauritania.
  • 17-20 July 1979: At a Summit in Monrovia, Liberia, the Organisation of African Unity, OAU (currently African Union AU), launches a mediation initiative for a peaceful solution to the Western Sahara conflict by calling for a cease-fire and a referendum. The proposal is rejected by Morocco.
  • 15 August 1979: POLISARIO signs a cease-fire with Mauritania, in Algiers. Morocco takes control of most of the southern part of the Territory previously occupied by Mauritania.
  • 16 July 1980: The SADR formally applies for membership in the OAU.
  • 1981: Morocco begin the construction of the first of a series of defensive sand walls, ‘berms’, stretching over 2,400 Km in order to protect the Western part of the Territory.
  • 24-27 June 1981: At the 18 th OAU Summit in Nairobi, King Hassan II expresses his willingness to hold a referendum, taking into account Morocco’s historical claims to the Territory.
  • February 1982: The SADR is admitted to membership in the OAU during the 69 th Council of Ministers’ Conference. Morocco suspends its participation in the OAU.
  • 12 November 1984: Morocco officially withdraws from OAU.
  • 1 July 1985 – 11 August 1988: A joint effort of good offices UN-OAU culminates in the presentation to Morocco and the POLISARIO of the ‘Settlement Proposals’ for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. These proposals are reiterated in the Secretary-General’s report S/22464, of 9 April 1991, and adopted by Security Council resolution 690 of 19 April 1991. They became known as ‘Settlement Plan’.
  • 16 April 1987 – End of the construction of 6 th line of berm by the Moroccan Armed Forces.
  • 20 September 1988: Hector Gross Espiell (Uruguay) is appointed as first Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara.
  • 7 October 1989 – POLISARIO launches a massive attack against Moroccan troops in Guelta Zemmour (Centre of Western Sahara) and Amgala (II).
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