WESTERN SAHARA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R002800020044-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2001
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: September 26, 1978
• Content Type: NOTES

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Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 B00401 R002800020044ZX Sept 7p'
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Map) I. 3 year dispute entering new phase. Change results from
Coup in Mauritania. New rulers want to settle. Morocco
and Algeria have reassessed positions.
II. Occasional contacts to date. This week Hassan and
Bournediene due to meet in Belgium. Both say intend to
be more flexible.
III. But tough issue to resolve. Long way to go.
a. Moroccan irredentist drive is very strong.
Hassan says his future rests on maintaining sovereignty
over phosphate rich northern part.
b. Algeria views question in terms of northern African
predominance. No territorial claims but wants deny
Morocco direct link to black Africa, access to phosphate.
Also aspires to Algerian access to Atlantic. Uses
self determination.
(co%ocyor Bet{ Photo)
c. Polisano. Success, particularly against Mauritania.
Wants to fight to end.
But only 15 nations recognized. Even Soviets -
Cubans cautious. Heavily dependent on Algeria.
d. Mauritania wants out. Losing 120M. in F.E./yr.
from attacks on iron ore transportation and production
facilities.
Could back out on alliance with Morocco. Daddah
fell on this issue.
New leadership committed to settlement.
~~Da~o~
IV. Current status. 3 - 5,000 Polisano. Phosphate ies
curtailed. Truce w/Mauritania. Moroccan casualties
up 40 to 100/mo.
V. In Terms of Settlement
Morocco
a. Will not give up sovereignty claims
b. Will not give up control of phosphate
c. Opposition to independent Sahara.
Algeria
a. Recognize military solution unlikely
b. Sees no end to struggle since Polisano cannot gain
recognition in NAM
c. But may see Mauritanian weakness as exploitable.
-V r) e, 6
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 B00401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
VI. In end only possibility t' Some sort of Saharan Federation
which
- is tied to Mauritania
- leaves north to Morocco
- results in border settlement between Morocco
and Algeria. Possible collaboration in exploiting
new ore deposits in S.W. Algeria.
VII. But we doubt this week's conference will produce solution.
Morocco is trying to buck up Mauritania. Algeria is unlikely
cave. But could start process that could ultimately lead to
solution since everyone now aware that military resolution
unlikely.
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Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
New Developments
Conflicting Interests
-Morocco
-Algeria
-Polisario
-Mauritania
Current Status
Prospects
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
LISBONRTJ S P A N
PO GA?
A T L A N T I C
O C E A N
RABAT
Partition line shown by
Mauritania- Morocco
Accord, 1976
DakhIaj
Fishing nter
deposits ' ' Iron ore
rpfning center
! Gara Djebilet
Iron ore ? Refugee camps
deposits
ALGERIA
M A L I
Bd CraatiSZ
Phosphate.-
deposits
WESTERN
SAHARA
NFPT'
I
)
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 B00401 R002800020044-5
Polisario guerrillaA$$R) 9 08~y Td&igfYd6f/6@109~.CIA-RDP81B00401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP811B00401 R002800020044-5
Guerrillas in Land Rover Departing for mission in Western Sahara.
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP811B00401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED THE POLISARIO
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Burundi
Congo
Guinea-Bissau
Madagascar
Mozambique
Panama
Rwanda
Sao Tome & Principe
Seychelles
South Yemen
Togo
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
Automated conveyor belt rendered inoperative since early 1976 by sporadic guerrilla harassment.
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
Peoples of Western Sahara
Guelta
Zemmu
Ulad
Must
Bir
Mogrem
Tribal grouping follows that of the Servicio de
Registro de Poblacibn, Censo y Estadistica,
EI Aaiun.
MAURITANIA
BOUNDARY REPRESENTATION IS '
NOT NECESSARILY AUTHORITATIVE
Peoples
L_J Ergueibat Charg
Ergueibat Sahel
Ulad Delim
Tidrarin
Chorfas and tribes
of the South
Tekna
Arosien
Yenha Component Tribe
0 50 100 Mmes
C 50 100 Kilometers
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
 S E C R E T
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5
MILITARY FORCES COMPARISON
Morocco
Mauritania
Polisario
Algeria
Ground Forces
Men (thousand)
3-5
80
Tanks
215
0
0
515
Heavy Artillery & Mortars
930
16
0
450
Air Defense
SAMs
144
0
0
232
Artillery
245
0
0
520
Forces
Pilots
160
20
0
250
Combat Aircraft
44
0
0
255
Foreign Military Advisers
French
200
100
0
90
Russian
10
0
0
500-600
S E C R E T
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R002800020044-5