Morocco marks Green March anniversary as Western Sahara dispute enters new phase

Associated Press · Akram Oubachir · 2026-11-06 10:01 UTC

Morocco commemorates the 1975 Green March, marking its claim over Western Sahara from Spanish rule. In Laayoune, Moroccan flags and portraits of King Mohammed VI are displayed prominently. The anniversary highlights the ongoing conflict with Sahrawis who seek independence. The U.N. Security Council recently failed to renew the peacekeeping mission's mandate, which expired October 31. Morocco welcomes this, gaining support from allies like the U.S. and France for its autonomy proposal. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria and Russia, insists on a referendum for independence. Despite development efforts, residents face economic challenges.

Morocco celebrates anniversary of Western Sahara takeover as UN mission ends

LAAYOUNE, Western Sahara (AP) — Morocco on Friday commemorated the Green March, the 1975 mass mobilization into then-Spanish controlled Western Sahara that helped pave the way for Morocco’s takeover of most of the disputed territory. The anniversary comes as the decades-old conflict enters a new diplomatic phase as a U.N. peacekeeping mission there winds down.

In Laayoune, the largest city in the part of Western Sahara controlled by Morocco, signs of the Green March anniversary were visible across public spaces.

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