A de facto states struggle for international recognition : the case of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a unique example of a "de facto state"– having existed for almost 50 years and enjoying international recognition provided by over forty states. Nevertheless, it controls only one-fifth of the territory it claims rights to, while the rest of it lies within the Moroccan borders. Since the 1991 ceasefire, the POLISARIO Front – the Sahrawi political representation – has sought international recognition by means of peaceful methods. However, in November 2020 it renewed the conflict, because of the Moroccan activity in the buffer zone near Guerguerat. The article elaborates on the strategies adopted by the SADR to gain international recognition, as well as the Moroccan response in the form of counter-recognition strategies. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of the already-existing sources, a critical reading of the literature on the subject, and qualitative data gathered during study visits to Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania.