Sand War

The Sand War was a brief 1963 armed conflict between Algeria and Morocco over their disputed Saharan border. It ended with a ceasefire and mediation by the Organization of African Unity.

French Algeria: A French colonial territory in North Africa from 1830 until Algerian independence in 1962. Its colonial administration helped shape the borders Algeria inherited at independence.
Battle of Hassi Beïda: A 1963 clash in the border settlement of Hassi Beïda between Algerian and Moroccan forces. The attack there marked an early escalation of the Sand War.
Ahmed Ben Bella: Algeria’s first president, serving from 1963 until his overthrow in 1965. He led Algeria during the war and rejected Morocco’s territorial claims.
Organization of African Unity: A continental organization founded in 1963 by independent African states, succeeded by the African Union in 2002. Its mediation helped broker a ceasefire and establish a process for settling the dispute.
French Morocco: A French protectorate over much of Morocco from 1912 until Moroccan independence in 1956. Its shifting boundaries left unresolved questions along Morocco’s frontier with Algeria.
Battle of Tindouf: A 1963 battle in and around Tindouf during the Sand War. The fighting brought the dispute to a major Algerian town near the frontier.
Hassan II of Morocco: King of Morocco from 1961 until 1999. He directed Morocco during the conflict and pursued claims to the disputed borderlands.
Bamako Agreement: A 1963 agreement between Algeria and Morocco that established a ceasefire and a joint process for resolving border disputes. It formalized the halt to combat and provided a framework for later negotiations.
Treaty of Lalla Maghnia: A 1845 treaty that established part of the boundary between French Algeria and Morocco. It fixed sections of the frontier but left southern stretches undefined.
Algerian People's National Army: The armed forces of Algeria, formed after the country gained independence in 1962. Its units defended Algerian positions during the border fighting.

Linked from 2 pages

Greater MoroccoBroader topic: The conflict exposed the stakes of territorial disagreements associated with Moroccan irredentism.