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This article is about the historical event. For the aerobatic team see: Marche Verte.

The Green March was a peaceful mass demonstration in November 1975, coordinated by the Moroccan government, to force Spain to hand over the disputed colony of Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) which Morocco had long claimed that it was historically an integral part of its territory.

Background

Morocco, to the north of the Spanish Sahara, had long claimed that the territory was historically an integral part of Morocco, and should not be independant. Mauritania to the south argued also that the territory should be Mauritanian. Since 1973, a guerrilla war led by the Polisario Front had challenged Spanish control with some success, and in October 1975 Spain had quietly begun negotiations for a handover of power with leaders of the rebel movement, according to partial sources.

Morocco intended to vindicate its claims by demanding a verdict from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ stated that there were historical legal ties of allegiance between Sahrawi tribes and the Sultan of Morocco, as well as ties including some rights relating to the land between Mauritania and these same tribes. However the ICJ stated also that there was no ties of territorial sovereignty between the territory and Morocco or Mauritania at the time of Spanish colonization. By then the court stated that those legal ties don't affect the principle of self determination of the peoples of the Territory. A UN visiting mission had concluded on October 15 that Sahrawi support for independence was "overwhelming". The reference to previous Moroccan-Sahrawi ties of allegiance was considered by King Hassan II as a vindication of his position, and within hours of the ICJ verdict's release, he announced the initiative of the "Green March" to Spanish Sahara, to "reunite it with the Motherland".

Historical Foundations of the Moroccanity of Western Sahara

According to Morocco, the exercise of Sovereignty by the Moroccan State during its history which is characterized by a number of peculiarities due to the particular structure of the State. The central power is exerted by the Sultan, "Commander of the Believers". The acceptation of the Sultan's person by the believers is made through the "Beyaa", or allegiance. The obedience which, translated into inter-temporal terms, emanates from the traditional efforts binding a State to its nationals so long as the Sultan remains faithful to the precepts of the Coran. The Sultan, representative of the supreme spiritual and political authority, is in charge of, among others, the protection of the population and the relationship with foreign powers. Therefore, the allegiance act is synonymous with sovereignty. Besides, this has been confirmed by Judge Ammoun in his opinion relating to the judgment of the ICJ on the Sahara.

The Green March

In preparation for the march, Moroccan Army forces crossed the border to engage the Polisario on October 31, according to partial sources. As preparations were underway for the march, a well-publicized event of enormous proportions. On November 6, 1975, approximately 350,000 unarmed Moroccans converged on the city of Tarfaya in southern Morocco and waited for a signal from King Hassan II of Morocco to cross into Western Sahara. They brandished Moroccan flags, banners calling for the return of the Moroccan Sahara, photographs of the King and the Qur'an. The color green for the march's name was intended as a symbol of Islam. As the marchers reached the border - even though the majority never crossed it - Spanish troops were ordered not to fire to avoid bloodshed.

The Madrid Accords

As a result, Spain agreed to enter direct bilateral negotiations with Morocco, bringing in also Mauritania, who had made similar demands. This resulted in the November 14 Madrid Accords, a secret pact which divided Spanish Sahara between Mauritania and Morocco, in return for a 35% concession in the phosphate mines of Bu Craa, and Spanish fishing rights offshore, according to partial sources . Both nations then formally annexed the parts they had been alloted in the Accords. Morocco claimed and liberated the northern part, i.e. Saguia el-Hamra and minor parts of Río de Oro, while Mauritania proceeded to annex the southern third of the country under the name Tiris al-Gharbiyya. However The Polisario, with Algerian backing, refused the Madrid Accords, and argued that the ICJ's opinion on Sahrawi self-determination should be respected and began a long war with Morocco and Mauritania.

See also

• Western Sahara
• History of Western Sahara
• International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara

• History of Western Sahara
• History of Morocco