Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain

Date: 4 Jan 1969
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

On 4 January 1969 an agreement to return Sidi Ifni to Morocco was signed between Spain and Morocco. One of the terms of the agreement was the awarding of fishing rights to Spain, off Morocco's Atlantic coast. Although the actual transfer was made on 30 June, the Sidi Ifni people were happy about the resolution. The story of Sidi Ifni dates back to 1476 when Spanish explorer, Diego GarcÁa de Herrera, lord of the Canaries, established the area as a Spanish fishing, slaving, and trading locality. Diseases and the hostility of the local population forced Spain to abandon the region in 1524. In 1860 Spain reclaimed the region following a treaty with Morocco, but the effective Spanish reoccupation began in 1934.

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How we know this

01Boddy-Evans A. (2011), ‘This Day in African History’, from African History, 04 January, [online] Available at www.africanhistory.about.com [Accessed: 01 December 2011]
02Answers.com, ‘Ifni’, from Answers [online], Available at www.answers.com [Accessed: 01 December 2011]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, December 20). Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071690

South African History Online (2011) 'Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain', South African History Online, 20 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071690 (Accessed: 24 September 2026).

South African History Online, Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071690, (accessed 24 September 2026).

"Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain." South African History Online, 20 Dec. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071690. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Morocco reclaims its long lost region of Sidi Ifni from Spain." South African History Online. December 20, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0071690.