Western Sahara
Population
266,000 peopleCapital
El Aaiún (Moroccan), Bir Lehlou (temporary)Currency
Moroccan dirhamLanguages spoken in Western Sahara
N/A.Map of Western Sahara
Area in square kilometers
267,405 km2Gross domestic product per capita
$ 0
The Western Sahara conflict has resulted in severe human rights
abuses, most notably the displacement of tens of thousands of Sahrawi
civilians from the country, the expulsion of tens of thousands of
Moroccan civilians by the Algerian government from Algeria,
The Western Sahara was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in
April 1976, with Morocco acquiring the northern two-thirds of the
territory. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario
guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979,
Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of
Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish
colony. The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence
movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or
divisions, among which Western Sahara is included.
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About the Flag
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Significance and origin
Flag adopted 27 February 1976, state emblem adopted 1976, modified
June 1991.
I believe the flag with a map of the Western Sahara in the center is
fictional.
Jaume Ollé, 20 Nov 1999
What was this flag? Some non-islamic Saharawi fraction or supporter
movement?
António Martins, 12 Jul 2004
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PUNS
I saw a Western Sahara flag that had the crescent and star only on
the reverse. Of course this may be
interpreted as:
* the flag was hoisted upside down; or
population of Western Sahara are Sahrawis, and their exact number is
difficult to estimate many have moved into mainland Morocco, many
others abroad, while a large group have sought refuge in neighbour
countries, principally Algeria.
Morocco's claim to Western Sahara is connected to tribes of the
The situation in Western Sahara is monitored by UN forces, who
are experiencing little cooperation from Moroccan authorities.
For Morocco, and in particular the king, the matter with
Western Sahara has become so important, that no solution in favour of
the Sahrawis appear possible
to claim Western Sahara, has resulted in unity and national pride
among Moroccans, where the idea that the capital of Laayoune is an
extraordinarily beautiful city, while it is just like anywhere else in
Morocco, should be an indicator of how strong sentiments are.
Formerly Western Sahara was a colony of Spain. In 1975 the
International Court of Justice ruled that the people of Western Sahara
were entitled to self-determination including independence. That same
year a UN mission determined that the people of Western Sahara were
that the issue of Western Sahara is one of self-determination. The
resolution "Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Western
Sahara to self-determination and independence" and expresses "deep
concern at the aggravation of the situation prevailing in Western
Western Sahara is Africas last colony. Formerly a colony of Spain,
the World Court has ruled that the people of Western Sahara have the
right to self-determination. This right has been denied by Morocco,
Western Sahara is a hot, dry desert; consequently, rain is rare, but
flash floods occur. Cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy
dew. Due to the inability of sand to absorb heat, harsh cold nights
are common.
Western Sahara is an area in Saharan Africa bordering the Atlantic
Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco. Its governance is disputed, but
the majority of it is occupied by Morocco.
Regions
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explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the
Polisario. However, in 2006, the Polisario awarded similar exploration
licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if
Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
has been attempting since 1986, when the Western Sahara War was still
raging, to negotiate and implement a referendum among the inhabitants.
Geography and Population
The Western Sahara territory is part of the Sahara desert and consists
Western Sahara's status remained unresolved. Western Sahara has vast
phosphate deposits and some potash and iron ore.
For more information on Western Sahara, visit Britannica.com.
Columbia Encyclopedia: Western Sahara
Top Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Columbia EncyclopediaWestern
belonged to Western Saharan tribes but had migrated north during
previous decades for economic or political reasons. POLISARIO wanted
small-scale modifications to include more of its supporters.
The efforts of the UN secretary-general's personal representative,
former U.S
two-thirds of Western Sahara, and Mauritania took the southern third.
Meanwhile, fighting had already begun between Moroccan forces and
POLISARIO units. On one occasion, Algerian forces assisting POLISARIO
clashed with Moroccan troops. Concurrently, there was a large-scale
Western Sahara: Is the Endgame Near?" Middle East Journal 45 (Autumn
1991): 596.
Maddy-Weitzman, Bruce. "Conflict Resolution in the New World Order:
The UN and the Western Sahara." Asian and African Studies 26, no. 2
(July 1992).
that limited autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan rule is
the only solution. In contrast, Stephen Zunes states that Morocco
wishes to claim rich natural resources in the area, and that
support from the US and France at the Security Council allows
Thirty-three years ago, Morocco invaded Western Sahara and has
occupied the territory ever since. The International Court of
Justice legally confirmed the territorys indigenous Saharawis
right to self-determination, and they have been fighting for their
independence ever since
Western Sahara - has failed to broker a peace deal between Morocco
and the Frente Polisaro rebels over the West African territory.
Annan believes that the only way to break the deadlock is for the
Located in northern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean, Western Sahara is
surrounded by Algeria to the east, Morocco to the north, and
Mauritania to the south. About the size of Colorado, it is mostly low,
flat desert with some small mountains in the south and northeast.
Its re-entry into the Western Sahara is opposed by the Polisario
Front, a band of militants that are a relic of the Cold War.
Historically, the inhabitants of the disputed territory sometimes
referred to as the “Western Sahara” demonstrated allegiance to Morocco
government name for Western Sahara is the "Southern Provinces," which
indicates Río de Oro and Saguia el-Hamra.
Not under control of the Moroccan government is the area that lies
between the sand wall and the actual border with Algeria. The
Western Sahara is bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the
northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean on
the west. The land is some of the most arid and inhospitable on the
Western Sahara, located in northwestern Africa, is one of the most
sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of
desert flatlands.
Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia al-Hamra
and Rio de Oro (Polisario) independence movement dispute control of
Advisory Council on the Western Sahara that the King had announced in
October 1999.
On November 28, Mohamed Boucetta, imprisoned for petty crime, died in
custody in Laayoune prison in the Western Sahara. According to Saharan
Political rights for the residents of Western Sahara were
circumscribed. Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly
and association remained very restricted. In June a Sahrawi activist
claimed that the Sahwaris were unable to form political associations
or politically oriented NGOs.
The sovereignty of the Western Sahara remained the subject of dispute
between the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front (Popular
Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an
organization seeking independence for the region. The Moroccan
Freedom of movement within the Western Sahara was limited in
militarily sensitive areas, both within the area controlled by the
Government of Morocco and the area controlled by the Polisario. Both
Moroccan and Polisario security forces at times subjected travelers to
arbitrary questioning
new Royal Advisory Council on the Western Sahara that the King had
announced in 1999.
In July, three prisoners were convicted for the November 2002 death in
custody of Mohamed Boucetta, imprisoned in Laayoune for drug charges.
A prison guard was acquitted in the case.
Political rights for the residents of Western Sahara remained
circumscribed. Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly
and association remained very restricted in the Western Sahara. A
demonstration of the FVJ was disrupted in Laayoune in February.
ensure the human rights of the people of Western Sahara were
protected. Both amendments had been withdrawn, in the spirit of
consensus.
VLADIMIR K. SAFRONKOV ( Russian Federation) expressed surprise
He said the conflict in Western Sahara had gone on too long and
prevented progress towards regional integration in northern
Africa. Everyone yearned for a mutually agreed political solution,
but four rounds of discussions had confirmed the difficulties
situation concerning Western Sahara, it had before it the
Secretary-General's report on the matter (S/2008/251), in which he
recommends that the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the
Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) be extended for a further
Morocco, the legal status of Western Sahara and its sovereignty is
unresolved (so to speak), as it is not yet officially recognized as a
part of Morocco by the United Nations.
Read more about the history and timeline of Western Sahara
here!
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