Morocco's campaign to erase the border line between its territory and Western Sahara on official maps has largely failed, despite being a primary focus since its occupation of the region. Entities publishing maps, including propaganda outlets, websites, institutions, and companies, reportedly fear depicting a combined Morocco and Western Sahara on their cartography. Supporting the "Moroccanity of the Sahara" is understood to entail shirking responsibility, endorsing Morocco's occupation, and legitimizing a regime accused of grave human rights violations, according to reports.
Colonial Origins of the Map
The map of Western Sahara predates the cartography of more than half of the world's currently recognized nations, having been deposited in the League of Nations archives in 1937. French and Spanish colonialism drew the map in three distinct stages. The initial stage occurred in 1900, establishing the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania. A second stage followed in 1904, defining the boundary between Western Sahara and Algeria. The final stage of the map's creation took place in 1912, setting the border between Western Sahara and Morocco. This specific map is older than the maps of many Gulf Arab countries, African countries, and other nations globally. In 2026, telecommunications company Orange placed billboards on Spanish highways displaying a map of Morocco that included Western Sahara.
Morocco's Persistent Map Campaign
Morocco has largely failed to persuade Spain and its institutions to recognize a map that incorporates Western Sahara as part of its territory. This failure was further amplified when the United Nations recently published a map clearly depicting Western Sahara as a separate entity from Morocco, distinguished by a clear line and a different color. Morocco occupied Western Sahara in 1975, and its efforts to alter cartographic representations have been ongoing. Following Spain's recognition in 2022, the Makhzen attempted to convince Spanish companies and institutions to adopt a Moroccan map that included Western Sahara. Telecommunications company Orange, for instance, faced significant attacks and complaints after placing billboards on Spanish highways displaying such a map. Orange quickly withdrew the billboards to avoid potential legal action, noting the resistance to Morocco's cartographic claims.
Spanish Entities Under Fire
The issue of cartographic representation reached the Spanish Parliament in 2025. Official Gazette Number 368, issued on July 1, 2025, stated that "the use of an incorrect map of Morocco including Western Sahara is not an isolated incident." The Gazette further noted, "In recent years, several cases have been recorded where organizations and bodies used an illegal map." While Pedro Sánchez recognized autonomy in 2022, this did not represent Spain as a whole, and there is no strict Spanish law yet prohibiting the use of an illegal map. However, Spaniards and the Sahrawi diaspora actively monitor companies and institutions publishing incorrect maps, as companies and individuals publishing them can be prosecuted for violating international law.
In 2023, the public company ENAIRE, operating under the Spanish Ministry of Transport, used a map showing Western Sahara integrated into Morocco. After controversy, ENAIRE updated its map to depict Western Sahara separated by a dashed line. The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities also published a map showing Western Sahara as part of Morocco on its website in 2024. Following criticism, the Ministry replaced the map with one showing a clear line separating Western Sahara from Morocco. Similarly, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published a map integrating Western Sahara with Morocco, but replaced it with one separating the two after strong criticism. Spanish broadcaster RTVE also published a map showing Western Sahara within Morocco in 2023, later changing it.
Spain's Decolonization Duty
The Sahrawi people retain the right to independence or at least self-determination through a referendum, a principle stipulated by a United Nations General Assembly resolution. Spain faces criticism for not fulfilling its commitments to the UN, as it remains the administering power in Western Sahara, responsible for its decolonization and enabling self-determination for its inhabitants. Calls for Spain to take bolder steps to atone for its failure to decolonize Western Sahara have intensified, particularly following its recognition of Sahrawi rights to Spanish citizenship. Sahrawis are now demanding that Spain enact a law prohibiting Spanish institutions and companies from publishing maps that integrate Western Sahara with Morocco, viewing this legislative action as a more straightforward measure than the citizenship grants.
