Migration into the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara
Part of a series on the
Western Sahara conflict
Background
Spanish Sahara
Greater Morocco
Greater Mauritania
Moroccan Army of Liberation
Movement for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Wadi el Dhahab
Polisario Front
Sahrawi National Union Party
Madrid Accords
Partition agreement
Regions
Saguia el-Hamra
Río de Oro
Southern Provinces
Tiris al-Gharbiyya
Free Zone
Politics
Annexation of Western Sahara
Political status of Western Sahara
Foreign relations of Morocco
Makhzen
Politics of the SADR
Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs
Clashes
Ifni War
Zemla Intifada
Western Sahara War
First Intifada
Independence Intifada
Gdeim Izik
Arab Spring protests
2020–present clashes
Timeline
Issues
Refugees
camps
Sahrawi nationality
Green March
Moroccan settlers
Moroccan Wall
Human rights
Peace process
UN resolutions
UN visiting mission
UN referendum mission
ICJ Advisory Opinion
Settlement Plan
Houston Agreement
Baker Plan
Manhasset negotiations
Autonomy Proposal
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As part of the Western Sahara conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco has sponsored settlement schemes that have enticed thousands of Moroccan citizens to relocate to the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. This regulated migration has been in effect since the Green March in 1975, and it was estimated in 2015 that Moroccan settlers accounted for two-thirds of the 500,000 inhabitants of Western Sahara.[1]
Under international law, the transfer of Moroccan citizens into the occupied territory constitutes a direct violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (cf. Turkish settlers in Northern Cyprus and Israeli settlers in the Palestinian territories).[2]
^Shefte, Whitney (6 January 2015). "Western Sahara's stranded refugees consider renewal of Morocco conflict". the Guardian.
^"Mixed Reviews for Morocco as Fourth Committee Hears Petitioners on Western Sahara, Amid Continuing Decolonization Debate | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases".
the Kingdom of Morocco has sponsored settlement schemes that have enticed thousands of Moroccan citizens to relocate to the Moroccan-occupied Western...
25°N 13°W / 25; -13 The Southern Provinces or Moroccan Sahara are the terms utilized by the Moroccan government to refer to the occupied territory of...
settlers in Northern Cyprus and Israeli settlers in the Palestinian territories). In 1652, the arrival of Europeans sparked the beginning of settler colonialism...
The Moroccan Western Sahara Wall or the Berm, also called the Moroccan sand wall (Arabic: الجدار الرملي المغربي في الصحراء الغربية, lit. 'Moroccan sand...
it was estimated that Moroccansettlers made up at least two thirds of the 500,000 inhabitants. Under international law, Morocco's transfer of its own civilians...
the Polisario Front and the Moroccan government. At the time, most of the Western Sahara territory remained under Moroccan control, while the Polisario...
more than 75% of Christian settlers left the country. In 2022, the U.S. State Department estimated the current number of Moroccan Christians as more than...
Sahara is not a legal part of Morocco and it remains under the international laws of military occupation. Moroccansettlers currently make up more than...
1975 Green March, the Moroccan state has sponsored settlement schemes enticing thousands of Moroccans to move into the Moroccan-occupied part of Western...
attracted other Moroccansettlers. Witnessing the violence and injustices, many of Morocco's own Sahrawis became disillusioned with Moroccan government policy...
on voter eligibility. Morocco demanded the inclusion of all people now living in the territory, including all Moroccansettlers. Following the 1975 Green...
recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Moroccan normalization of relations with Israel. In 2023 Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty...
Timeline Issues Refugees camps Sahrawi nationality Green March MoroccansettlersMoroccan Wall Human rights Peace process UN resolutions UN visiting mission...
to move into the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara (80% of the territory). By 2015, it was estimated that Moroccansettlers made up at least two...
territory to Morocco and Mauritania, but not sovereignty. In late 1975, the Moroccan government organized the Green March of some 350,000 Moroccan citizens...
000) of the Moroccan population. Since 1960 a growing number of Moroccan Muslims are converting to Christianity. On 27 March 2010, the Moroccan magazine...
Throughout World War I, a total of 37,300–45,000 Moroccans fought for France, forming a "Moroccan Brigade." Moroccan colonial troops first served France in the...
languages are Arabic and Berber; French and the Moroccan dialect of Arabic are also widely spoken. Moroccan identity and culture is a mix of Arab, Berber...
the ceasefire; verify the reduction of Moroccan troops in the Territory; monitor the confinement of Moroccan and Frente Polisario troops to designated...
up headquarters in Tindouf. After Moroccan pressures through the Green March of 6 November and the Royal Moroccan Army's previous invasion of eastern...
of Morocco, with suggested boundaries. The Moroccan nationalists supported the idea of a Greater Morocco, based upon the territory of the Sharifian empire[broken...
According to Morocco, the exercise of sovereignty by the Moroccan state was characterized by official pledges of allegiance to the sultan. The Moroccan government...
Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front. The UN recognizes neither Moroccan nor SADR sovereignty over Western Sahara. Moroccansettlers currently make...
Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Morocco. One of Africa's most successful national football teams, Morocco won the...
independence of Morocco from the French-Spanish coalition. It was founded in 1955 as an attempt to organise the various factions of rural Moroccan armed resistance...
the Polisario Front and the Moroccan government. At the time, most of the Western Sahara territory remained under Moroccan control, while the Polisario...
are related to its colonial history. Morocco was secretly partitioned by Spain and France and in 1912 the Moroccan territory was made into French and Spanish...
and Morocco are still at war, visits between the camps and the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara are virtually impossible, with the Moroccan Wall...
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