Middle East 543
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes the Ifni War, which was primarily a struggle
over rich oil and mineral resources found in the Southern Moroccan Protectorate.
Underscoring this issue was the Moroccan effort to claim this southern territory from
Spain following its independence in April 1956. New fighting reportedly broke out in
November 1957, with Moroccan Liberation Army forces attacking Spain’s Ifni and
Rio de Oro colonies. Spain sent reinforcements, and clashes ensued.
On November 28, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan accused Spanish forces
of attacking Moroccan territory, and ordered the royal army to return fire. On Decem-
ber 8, Spain threatened Morocco regarding its aid to Ifni rebels. Though the Spanish
government claimed all organized resistance had ended, it maintained a naval pres-
ence in the region for the duration of the dispute. Spain renewed its threats on Decem-
ber 31. Then Spain bombed the rebel-claimed Ifni region on February 19, 1958, and
dropped about 500 paratroopers. In response, Morocco expelled the Spanish consul on
February 21. Spanish threats and reinforcements on both sides continued into March.
The dispute ended on April 2, 1958, with the Treaty of Angra de Cintra, in which
Morocco would take over administration of the Southern Moroccan Protectorate.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 23, 1957. End Date changed
from February 24, 1958. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from
None.
MID#2887
Dispute Number: 2887
Date(s): January 19, 1961
Participants: 600 Morocco/230 Spain
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Spain protested Moroccan airspace violations over the Spanish enclave
of Ifni.
MID#2880
Dispute Number: 2880
Date(s): November 1, 1961
Participants: 230 Spain/600 Morocco
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: By late 1961, the last of the Spanish troops in Morocco were withdrawing,
but the cities of Melilla and Cueta continued to be disputed, so Spanish and Moroc-
can tensions remained high. On November 3, the government of Morocco lodged a
protest against Spain for violations of its maritime borders: a Spanish destroyed sunk
a Moroccan fishing vessel off the Moroccan port of Arsila two days earlier.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 3, 1961. End Date changed
from November 3, 1961.