The French 1805 Archive Map Exposes Colonial Legacies, Challenges False Moroccan Claims, and Upholds the Sahrawi and Rif People’s Fight for Independence

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | January 27th, 2025 — History, as an impartial witness to the past, holds the power to dismantle fabricated narratives and unveil the enduring truths of geopolitical landscapes. A particularly significant artifact in this context is the French archive map from 1805, a document that paints an unassailable picture of North Africa during the colonial era. This map reveals Algeria’s status as a vast and dominant regional power, distinguishes the Western Sahara as a separate territorial entity, and underscores the independence of the Rif Republic—all while refuting the myth of Morocco as an expansive empire. These historical revelations challenge Morocco’s current territorial ambitions and reinforce the legitimate struggles of the Sahrawi and Rif peoples for self-determination.

The 1805 Map: A Lens Into North Africa’s Colonial Reality
The 1805 map from the French archives serves as a crucial historical document, shedding light on the geopolitical dynamics of North Africa during a period marked by colonial interference.

• Algeria’s Regional Supremacy: The map depicts Algeria as a vast and influential power, its territorial expanse dwarfing neighboring regions. This reinforces its historical significance as a central player in the region’s socio-political and cultural development.
• Western Sahara’s Identity: Contrary to modern territorial claims, the map distinctly identifies the Western Sahara as an autonomous region with clear geographical boundaries, separate from any other state, including Morocco.
• The Independent Rif Republic: The Rif region emerges as a separate, sovereign entity, free from Moroccan control. This delineation highlights the historical autonomy of the Rif people and their resistance to foreign domination.
• Morocco’s Limited Scope: In stark contrast to its contemporary expansionist rhetoric, Morocco appears on the map as a small, constrained kingdom, lacking the territorial reach it claims today.

Debunking the Myth of a Grand Moroccan Empire
Modern Moroccan narratives often perpetuate the illusion of a historical empire that spanned vast stretches of North Africa. This myth is strategically deployed to justify territorial claims over regions such as the Western Sahara. However, the 1805 map and a wealth of historical evidence dismantle this fabricated narrative.

• Fabrication of Historical Claims: The map starkly contradicts the portrayal of Morocco as a dominant force in North Africa, exposing the falseness of claims to a grand empire.
• Lack of Historical Evidence: Archival records from the colonial period provide no indication of Moroccan control beyond its immediate borders, undermining expansionist assertions rooted in selective or distorted history.

The Western Sahara: A Case of Ongoing Occupation
The plight of the Western Sahara remains a glaring example of Morocco’s expansionist ambitions. Despite overwhelming historical evidence and international condemnation, Morocco persists in its unlawful occupation of the region, ignoring the Sahrawi people’s legitimate right to self-determination.

• Violation of International Law: Morocco’s annexation of the Western Sahara flagrantly disregards international treaties, including those affirming the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their political future through a referendum.
• United Nations Resolutions: Repeated UN resolutions reaffirm the Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory and emphasize the necessity of a fair, impartial process for self-determination.
• Enduring Struggle: The Sahrawi people continue to resist Moroccan occupation, with their cause supported by numerous regional and global actors advocating for justice and sovereignty.

The Rif Republic: A Forgotten Fight for Independence
The story of the Rif region is one of resilience and defiance. Historically an independent entity, the Rif people have long resisted colonial domination and the forced integration into the Moroccan state.

• Legacy of the Rif Republic: The brief existence of the Rif Republic in the early 20th century symbolizes the enduring spirit of independence and self-governance among the Rif people.
• Resistance to Hegemony: Despite Morocco’s attempts to consolidate control, the Rif region remains a bastion of resistance, with its people advocating for autonomy and the recognition of their unique historical identity.
• Contemporary Struggles: Movements for Rif independence persist today, driven by a deep-seated desire for justice and self-determination in the face of continued repression.

History as the Guardian of Truth
The 1805 map and the historical realities it exposes serve as a resounding testament to the complexities of North Africa’s colonial past. These truths challenge Morocco’s unfounded expansionist claims and underscore the legitimacy of the struggles for independence in the Western Sahara and the Rif.

In the face of modern political distortions, history stands as an unwavering ally in the fight for justice. The documented realities of North Africa’s past reveal Algeria’s leadership as a regional power, the autonomy of the Western Sahara, and the enduring resistance of the Rif people. As these truths come to light, they strengthen the case for self-determination and the rejection of narratives designed to rewrite history. For the Sahrawi and Rif peoples, history is not merely a record of the past but a powerful tool in their ongoing pursuit of freedom and sovereignty.

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