Part 4/8:
The aftermath of the Madrid Accords ignited conflict, as the Polisario Front launched a guerrilla war against Moroccan and Mauritanian forces. By 1979, Mauritania withdrew, leaving Morocco to contend with the Polisario alone. A lengthy war ensued, characterized by significant casualties and leading to the establishment of a modest establishment of Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria.
Today, about 80% of Western Sahara is under Moroccan control, while roughly 20% remains under the de facto control of the Polisario Front, although these areas consist primarily of uninhabitable desert. Both parties currently abide by a long fortification, known as the Berm, constructed by Morocco and heavily mined, making it a veritable military barrier.