A former Spanish colony declared independence in 1976, claiming sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara. The SADR controls 25% of the territory it it claims, which are called liberated territories, while the rest is claimed by Morocco. Instead Morocco considers SADR to be a buffr zone.

As of 2013, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has been recognized by 85 states. Of these, 36 have since "frozen" or "withdrawn" recognition for a number of reasons. A total of 40 states currently maintains diplomatic relations with the SADR. Sahrawi embassies exist in 18 states.