Morocco - History Throughout the ages, Morocco’s location at the northwest corner of Africa opposite Spain has at traded invading forces. Phoenicians came to trade and settle, then successive waves of Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, and Byzantine Creeks arrived to dominate and rule. The Arabs began bringing their civilization in the 7th century, and the Alaouite dynasty, which claims descent from the Prophet Mohammed, has ruled Morocco since 1649. The Portuguese controlled the Atlantic coast in the 15th century and the French arrived in 1830. In 1904 Morocco was divided into spheres of French and Spanish influence and a 1912 treaty established these zones as protectorates. Morocco began to assert its independence after World War II with the formation of the Istiqlal (Independence) Party. Active opposition to foreign domination erupted in 1953 after France deposed the highly respected Sultan Muhammad V and replaced him with his unpopular uncle. France allowed Muhammad V to return in 1955 and granted political independence on March 2, 1956. In 1956 and 1958, Morocco gained authority over the Spanish-controlled areas and Tangier, an international zone since 1923, was also reintegrated. In foreign policy, Morocco is officially non-aligned but generally sympathetic to the West. Its long-term goals are to strengthen its influence in the Arab world, Africa, and the Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco), while maintaining close ties to Europe and the United States. Its major foreign-policy problem involves its absorption of Western Sahara when Spain relinquished its claim in 1976. This claim has entailed a long and costly war against the Algeria-based Polisano Front and for many years caused the rupture of diplomatic relations with Algeria. Diplomatic relations -as well as rail links, air links, and a gas pipeline deal-are back in place and agreements to negotiate a final solution have been reached. In 1975, thousands of Moroccans crossed the border into Spanish Sahara to support Moroccan claims to the northern part of the territory. Mauritania then occupied the southern half of Spanish Sahara. After Spain pulled out, Algeria supported Spanish Saharan claims to self-determination and backed the Polisano Front guerrillas. Mauritania made peace with the insurgents in 1979, but Polisano resistance to Moroccan occupation of the north and hostility between Algeria and Morocco continue. Relations with other North African states improved significantly in the late 1980s. In May 1988 Algeria and Morocco agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations. (Diplomatic relations with Mauritania had been suspended in 1981 and resumed in April 1985). In February 1989 North African Heads of State, meeting in Marrakesh, signed a treaty establishing the Union of the Arab Maghreb. The new body, which included Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia, aimed to promote trade by allowing the free movement of goods, services and workers.