 On 19 November 1995, the first group of Moroccan soldiers were repatriated to Morocco by mediation of the ICRC, Argentina and the United States.In April 1997, another group of 84 prisoners were released, followed by around 191 more released for the Ramadan festivities on 23 November 1999.Again, Morocco refused to repatriate the soldiers, allegedly because that would mean recognizing that Morocco was at war against the Polisario.