Founded in 1989, the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), is the economic and political partnership that brings together the five Maghreb countries. Nevertheless the organization has not functioned since 1995 due to several factors, with the issue of the territory of Western Sahara as the main problem, an area with valuable natural resources (oil, phosphate, gas and fishing sources), which was controlled by Morocco after Spain withdrew the Sahara.Until today the conflict between Morocco and those who claim the independence of Western Sahara has caused profound damage to the UMA, distancing States which must face new challenges of security against terrorism and the scarcity of food and water.International attempts to reach an agreement were unsuccessful, and the UMA weakens with the new international scenarios in which the Maghreb States act separately, is projecting separately to the Maghreb.
