Morocco seeks to claim sovereignty over Western Sahara, a long-disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa, which is sought out for its large phosphate deposits and abundant fisheries.

King Hassan II tries various methods to reclaim sovereignty over Western Saharan territories—first through legal means, then by force.

The king of Morocco's "fait accompli policy" appears to be working. He has managed to gain the support of the United States and European countries on the Western Sahara sovereignty issue. Still, the long-term consequences are unknown as the Sahrawi population was not given a say in the matter.