International recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on 27 February 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. SADR claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony; however, at present the SADR government controls approximately 20–25% of the territory it claims.[1] It calls the territories under its control the "Liberated Territories", whilst Morocco claims its territories as the "Southern Provinces".

As of September 2022, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognized by 46[original research?] out of a total of 193 United Nations member states. At different times, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has been recognized by 84[original research?] UN member states,[note 1] but, of these, 38 have since "frozen" or "withdrawn" recognition.[note 2] SADR has, at some point in time, been recognised by 43.5% of United Nations (UN) member states, 38 out of the other 54 (70%) African Union (AU) member states, 18 out of 57 (32%) Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, and 5 out of 22 (23%) Arab League (AL) member states. Several states that do not recognize the Sahrawi Republic nonetheless recognize the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the population of the Western Sahara, but not as the government-in-exile of a sovereign state.

The SADR has been a member of the African Union (AU), formerly the Organization of African Unity (OAU), since 1984. At the time, Morocco withdrew from the OAU in protest, until 2017, when Morocco again joined the African Union.[2] The SADR also participates as guest on meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement[3] or the New Asian–African Strategic Partnership,[4] over Moroccan objections.

The Arab League supports "Moroccan territorial integrity", without further specification, and withdrew maps "harming Morocco's territorial integrity".[5] In 2020, the United States under Donald Trump was the first country to recognize Morocco's unilateral annexation of Western Sahara.[6][7] While some countries reiterate support for the "territorial integrity of Morocco", a number of countries have expressed their support for a future status of Western Sahara as an autonomous part of Morocco.[8]

Besides Mexico, Algeria, Iran, Venezuela, Vietnam, Nigeria and South Africa, India was the largest middle power to have ever recognized SADR, having allowed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to open an embassy in New Delhi in 1985. However, India withdrew its recognition in 2000.[9]

  1. ^ "Sáhara Occidental – cuadro zonas mapa político-militar" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Morocco rejoins the African Union after 33 years". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ "NAM reiterates support to right of Saharawi people to determination". Sahara Press Service. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  4. ^ "South Africa". ARSO – Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Arab League supports Morocco's territorial integrity". Arabic News. 8 January 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  6. ^ "International law allows the recognition of Western Sahara". 7 November 2015.
  7. ^ "The U.S. recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara. Here's what that means". Washingtonpost.
  8. ^ "More countries reiterate territorial integrity of Morocco and Azerbaijan". DND. 17 June 2019.
  9. ^ "L'Inde annonce officiellement le retrait de sa reconnaissance La "rasd" en déconfiture". 27 June 2000. Archived from the original on 8 March 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2013.


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