From medieval times until Algeria’s independence in 1962, much of present-day western Algeria Béchar, Tindouf, Tlemcen was historically under Moroccan dynastic or spiritual influence, not an independent Algerian state. Only under French colonialism did “Algeria” take shape as a modern nation-state WikipediaWikipediaWikipediaWikipedia.
🕰️ Medieval Ties: Almoravids, Almohads, Mérinids
From the Almoravid and Almohad eras (11th–12th centuries), Moroccan sultans from Marrakesh extended control over parts of the Maghreb, reaching eastern Algeria and even Tripolitania Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1. Under the Mérinid dynasty (14th century), Moroccan rule at times included Tlemcen and extended toward modern Tunisia WikipediaWikipedia. In that era there was no separate Algerian state, these lands were part of a collective Maghrebi sphere centered in Morocco.
Ottoman Takeover and Colonial Rule: 16th–19th Centuries
From the 16th century, Ottoman authority over Algeria broke Morocco’s influence there. French colonization (1830–1962) then solidified Algeria as a separate entity. Morocco retained no control over those regions from the 16th century onward WikipediaWikipediaWikipedia.
Cross–Colonial Appeals and Moroccan Support
During French conquest (1830s), Algeria’s western populations (Tlemcen, Béchar, Tindouf) re‑pledged loyalty to the Sultan of Morocco, seeking protection against colonial oppression. Moroccan forces even entered Tlemcen before withdrawing under French pressure Wikipedia+1Reddit+1.
Post‑1962 Reality: Diverging Narratives and the Sand War
Morocco views eastern Saharan regions like Béchar and Tindouf as historically Moroccan territory, grounded in pre‑colonial boundaries. Algeria, established by colonial legacy in 1962, defends the colonial borders under international norms The Times.
Disagreements over Tindouf/Béchar led to the 1963–64 “Sand War.” Morocco briefly claimed and mobilized in these oases but ultimately abandoned territorial claims under the 1969 Treaty of Ifrane and subsequent accords. Algeria closed its border, deepening tensions Reddit+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2.
⚖️ The Moroccan Sahara: Algerian Role & Regional Stakes
Since Spain withdrew in 1975, Western Sahara has been contested between Morocco and the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria. Morocco administers the region as its southern provinces and proposes autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Algeria supports full Sahrawi independence, viewing Polisario as a decolonization movement Reuters+3Wikipedia+3AP News+3.
Algeria’s backing of Polisario has become a diplomatic tool in its rivalry with Morocco. For Morocco, resolution of the Western Sahara supports national unity and the historic integrity of Moroccan territory, including any lingering claims to eastern Saharan lands history.state.gov+1jstor.org+1.
📊 Quick Summary
| Period | Territorial Status |
|---|---|
| Pre‑16th Century | Moroccan dynasties controlled western Algerian regions |
| Ottoman Era (16th–19th c.) | Morocco loses influence over Algeria |
| Colonial Period | Algeria shaped under French rule; borders formalized |
| 1830s–1962 | Moroccan support to Algerians lasted; formal Algerian state emerges |
| Post‑1962 | Diverging Moroccan‑Algerian narratives about borders and history |
| Western Sahara Today | Moroccan sovereignty disputed; Algeria backs Sahrawi independence |
🔍 Why This History Still Matters
- Morocco sees Béchar and Tindouf as part of its historical geography. Recovery of Western Sahara strengthens its claim to broader national continuity.
- Algeria insists on colonial-era borders as the basis for legitimacy and regional order.
- The Western Sahara conflict reflects and intensifies the historical Algeria–Morocco rivalry, including territorial narratives about eastern Saharan lands politicstoday.org+14ausa.org+14Wikipedia+14Wikipedia+6ft.com+6AP News+6Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1.
FAQ
Was Algeria ever an independent state before 1962?
No, before French colonization Algeria existed under Ottoman suzerainty and tribal administrations, not as a modern nation‑state.
Why does Morocco claim Béchar and Tindouf?
Morocco argues these regions were under Moroccan dynastic or spiritual authority in the medieval and early modern periods.
What ended Morocco’s claims to these regions?
After the 1963 Sand War and Agreement of Ifrane (1969), Morocco formally abandoned its territorial claims.
How does Western Sahara relate to these eastern regions?
Morocco’s defense of Western Sahara as sovereign territory reinforces its broader argument that colonial borders can be challenged, including eastern Sahara claims.
What role has Algeria played in the Western Sahara dispute?
Algeria backs the Polisario Front and Sahrawi self-determination, using the issue to counter Morocco’s regional influence.
Conclusion
Historically, areas like Tindouf and Béchar were part of Morocco’s sphere of influence prior to Ottoman rule. After 1962, new borders rooted in colonial occupation replaced those historical connections. Morocco’s ongoing claim to Western Sahara reflects its broader agenda: to safeguard what it considers its legitimate historical space. In contrast, Algeria upholds the French-imposed borders and contests any revision, framing itself as defender of regional stability and post-colonial norms. For those curious about Maghreb history, this complex interplay between medieval legacy, colonial boundaries, and modern diplomacy defines Algeria–Morocco relations to this day.