ABSTRACT
Western Sahara is located on the Atlantic coast of North Africa between Morocco and Mauritania. It is not an offi cially recognised state and remains administered by Morocco. All proposals put forward by MINURSO have failed. Several states have developed diplomatic relations with the SADR represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria. Other states recognise Morocco’s sovereignty. Disputes continue between the Polisario Front and Morocco over the right to authorise oil exploitation in the territory. In July 2006, Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement allowing European vessels to fi sh off the coast of Morocco including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Until the legal status and sovereignty of the Western Sahara are resolved, these disputes will continue.
