MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XI-XII Middle East | Page 103

Western Sahara is rich by titanium, vanadium, iron, phosphates.
Minerals and fishing are two primary reasons for Morocco’s claims in
Western Sahara.
Morocco’s claims on the territory rely on the fact that the Western
Sahara is part of the Greater Maghreb. The Moroccan monarchy claims that
historical economic, religious, and military ties between the Moroccan sultan
and the Saharawi tribal councils prove that Morocco has always exercised
authority over the Western Sahara.
Morocco’s position is that any kind of independence is unacceptable, as
this would undermine the territorial integrity of the Moroccan state.
Morocco believes that the nationalism of the Saharawi people has been
exaggerated, and that the conflict springs more from historic Algerian-
Moroccan rivalry and the generous support Algeria has provided the Polisario
Front than from any legitimate Saharawi desire for freedom or independence.
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