Disputed territory of Western Sahara occupied by Morocco .
It was a Spanish colony from с 1884 to 1976. After Spain left, native Saharawi guerrillas (see Polisario ) based in Algeria declared a government-in-exile and fought Morocco and Mauritania for control. Mauritania made peace in 1979, whereupon Morocco claimed the whole territory. A referendum on whether the territory will remain part of Morocco or become independent has been repeatedly postponed. See also Hassan II .