Ifni War

The Ifni War is a conflict that took place in North Africa during the late 1950s. In Spain, it is often called the Forgotten War, or la Guerra Olvidada. The war involved Moroccan insurgents fighting against Spanish rule in territories known as Spanish West Africa. This region included the city of Sidi Ifni and parts of the Spanish Sahara. The conflict was a struggle over land and independence following major political changes in the region.

The roots of the war reached back to the year 1860. At that time, the city of Sidi Ifni was given to the Spanish Empire after the Hispano-Moroccan War. For many years, Spain held various territories in the area. In 1956, Morocco achieved independence from France and Spain. After gaining independence, Morocco wanted to reclaim all lands it considered part of its territory. Moroccan leaders, including Sultan Mohammed V, encouraged efforts to take back these colonial possessions.

Hostilities began to grow in the spring of 1957. In April, violent demonstrations against Spanish rule broke out in Ifni. By October, Moroccan militias were gathering near the territory. The actual war began in November 1957 when Moroccan forces attacked. They occupied the villages of Goulimine and Bouizakarne near Sidi Ifni. These attacks forced Spanish troops to retreat from most of the territory. They established a defensive perimeter to protect the city of Sidi Ifni itself.

During the fighting, several specific battles and sieges occurred. In the outpost of Tiluin, local infantry struggled against Moroccan forces. To help them, Spain used CASA 2.111 bombers and CASA 352 transport planes to drop paratroopers. Another difficult situation happened at Telata, where a Spanish Legion platoon faced ambushes and ran out of food. In Sidi Ifni, the city was placed under a long siege. However, the Moroccan forces could not break the defenses. The Spanish Navy supplied the 7,500 defenders from the sea, and the siege lasted until June 1958.

The conflict also spread to the Spanish Sahara. Moroccan units reorganized themselves into the Saharan Liberation Army to fight there. They launched attacks against Spanish garrisons at El Aaiún and Edchera. At Edchera, Moroccan forces used the large sand dunes to launch a surprise attack on the 13th Legionnaire Battalion. The fighting in the Sahara was intense, but the Spanish forces managed to resist the assaults. These battles showed how widespread the fighting had become across the different colonial territories.

In February 1958, Spain and France launched a massive joint mission called Operation Écouvillon. This offensive was designed to break up the Moroccan Liberation Army. The two countries used a combined air fleet of 150 planes. The Spanish deployed 9,000 soldiers, while the French provided 5,000 soldiers. This joint force successfully drove the Moroccan units out of their strongholds. For example, they captured the mountain positions at Tan-Tan and cleared areas near Smara and Tafurdat.

The war officially ended through diplomacy in April 1958. Spain and Morocco signed the Treaty of Angra de Cintra. This treaty resulted in the transfer of Cape Juby and most of the Ifni territory to Morocco. However, the city of Sidi Ifni did not change hands immediately. Spain kept control of the city until 1969. This delay was due to international pressure from the United Nations. Eventually, Spain relinquished the city to Morocco, marking a significant shift in the colonial history of North Africa.