The Moroccan Defensive Berm, Explained
The Moroccan berm is a roughly 2,700 km defensive sand-and-stone wall built in the 1980s. It separates the Moroccan-administered majority of the territory from the Polisario-held strip to the east.
What it is
A series of earthen walls, fences and monitoring posts, the berm is one of the longest defensive barriers in the world.
It stabilized the front during the war years before the 1991 ceasefire.
Its role today
The berm marks the de facto line between the developed Moroccan side and the thin eastern buffer.
Most population and economic activity lie west of it.
Frequently asked
How long is the berm?
About 2,700 km.
When was it built?
In stages during the 1980s.
See it on the map: explore the full territory of Morocco — coast to Sahara — on our interactive map of Morocco →