IFNI




SPANISH DEPENDENCY OF IFNI

Following its defeat in the Spanish-Moroccan War of 1859 - 1860, Morocco was forced
to sign the Treaty of Tetuán (1860), whereby it had to grant to Spain the perpetual
concession of "a fishery territory, located on the Atlantic coast, in the vicinity
of Santa Cruz de la Mar Pequeña" (Art 8).
The exact location of the ancient Spanish settlement of Santa Cruz - in existence
from 1476 to 1524 - was however unknown and as the mixed commissions appointed to
find it never reached an agreement, Spain unilaterally fixed it at Sidi Ifni - on
the southern frontier of Morocco - in 1883. (1) 
For nearly 50 years Ifni would now be a Spanish possession in name only as it was
only in 1934, when - despite all treaties (1900, 1904 and 1912) - France threatened
to occupy the area, that Sidi Ifni and its territory were effectively occupied. 

(1) Morocco contested this location, but as it wanted to avoid a conflict with
    Spain, it didn't insist.
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SPANISH CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS

Political and Military Governors
Gobernadores político y militar 

(Subordinated to the Spanish High Commissioners in Morocco)

1934 - 1946   The Political and Military Governors of the Spanish Sahara



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