Independence Intifada (Western Sahara)

Independence Intifada
Part of Western Sahara conflict
Date	May – November 2005
Location	Western Sahara, south of Morocco
Causes	Transfer of a Sahrawi prisoner from El Aaiun to Agadir
Goals	Independence of Western Sahara Respect of human rights
Methods	Demonstrations Civil resistance Rioting
Parties to the civil conflict
Independentist Sahrawis Moroccan government Auxiliary Forces Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Groupes urbains de sécurité
Number
Hundreds
Casualties
1 civilian killed dozens wounded

Moroccan government

The Independence Intifada or the Second Sahrawi Intifada (intifada is Arabic for "uprising") and also May Intifada is a Sahrawi activist term for a series of disturbances, demonstrations and riots that broke out in May 2005 in the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara and south of Morocco. This event has also been called The El-Aaiun Intifada by the same sources.

Western Sahara, formerly Spanish Sahara, was annexed by Morocco in 1975, as Spain pulled out. A war with the Polisario Front, which according to the UN represent the indigenous Sahrawi population, and was backed by neighboring Algeria, ensued. In 1991 a cease-fire was agreed upon, on the condition of a referendum on self-determination (including the options of independence or integration into Morocco). Since 1991 the terms of a referendum have been subject to years of dispute between the parties, although the cease-fire continues to hold despite remaining tensions. Morocco controls the majority of the territory, with Polisario forces controlling a rump. A UN mission MINURSO mission patrols the demarcation line.