Explained: What is the Western Sahara dispute that has now strained Algeria-Spain ties? | Explained News,The Indian Express
After Spain shifted its position on the Western Sahara dispute, Algeria announced it was suspending its 20-year-old treaty of “friendship, good neighbourliness, and co-operation” with the country. What is the dispute? How has Spain changed its stance and why?
Written by Manya Sheil
On June 8, Algeria announced that it was immediately suspending its 20-year-old treaty of “friendship, good neighbourliness, and co-operation” with Spain. The blow to the ties, which have proved mutually beneficial for both countries, came after Spain decided to shift its position on the Western Sahara dispute.
It was in 2002 that Madrid and Algiers had signed a deal to promote dialogue and co-operation on political, economic, financial, education and defence issues.
The dispute started with colonisation of the region by Spain in 1884.
When Spain announced its withdrawal from Western Sahara in 1975, the region descended into a conflict between Mauritania, Morocco and the Polisario Front – with all three trying to control the region.
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