The significance of US recognising Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara

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News: Morocco has agreed to become the fourth Arab nation to normalise relations with Israel as part of a deal in which the US agreed to recognise its claim over the disputed Western Sahara region.

Facts:

• Western Sahara: It is a disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria.
• Significance: It is mineral rich home to abundant reserves of phosphate, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of synthetic fertilisers.It has also lucrative fish resources and is believed to have off-shore oil.
• Dispute: After Spain had withdrawn from Western Sahara in 1976, two thirds of its annexed by Morocco.Since then it has been the subject of a territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Saharawi people led by the Polisario Front.