UN General Assembly
1961

45. The fact that part of the Sahara belongs to Algeria cannot be seriously contested. It matters little whether, at the beginning of the colonial era, Algeria did or did not possess part of the Sahara. We do not wish to enter here into the well known controversies. The fact is that today Algeria comprises, within its geographical and administrative limits,' a part of the Sahara. France has politically established that fact, The Governor-General of Algeria administered as a single entity the departments in the north and the Saharan territories in the south.