Río de Oro

Río de Oro is the southern geographic region of Western Sahara. It was one of two territories that formed the Spanish Sahara after 1958. It lay on the West African Coast. In 1975 as Spain retreated from the territory, West Sahara was split between Mauritania and Morocco. Rio de Oro was divided by these two countries.

History

In 1956 the territory of Rio de Oro was assigned to the NSA of North West Africa. In 1967 the NSA of North West Africa was split into two regions and Rio de Oro was assigned to the continuing NSA of North West Africa. In 1967, the NSA of North West Africa was again split and a the NSA of North West Africa was again assigned Rio de Oro. In 1975 with the formation of Mauritania and Morocco the territory or Rio de Oro ceased to exist.