Western Sahara

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Western Sahara's Information


Capital	El-Aaiun
Languages	Standard Arabic (national), Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Ethnic Groups	Arab, Berber
Religion	Muslim
Government	Legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved - territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, was led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ until his death in May 2016; current President Brahim GHALI elected in July 2016; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984 - Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm delineating the roughly 80 percent of Western Sahara west of the barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
Area	266,000.00 km²
Land Area	266,000.00 km²
Population	587,020.00 Most of the population lives in the two-thirds of the area west of the berm (Moroccan-occupied) that divides the territory; about 40% of that populace resides in Laayoune
Location	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Algeria 41 km, Mauritania 1,564 km, Morocco 444 km
GDP(PPP)	$906,500,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$2,500.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main export is phosphates.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include fuel for fishing fleet, and foodstuffs.
Climate	Mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain	Mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

Where is Western Sahara?

Located in Northern Africa, Western Sahara has a 2,049.00 km border with Algeria (41 km), Mauritania (1,564 km) and Morocco (444 km). It has a 1,110.00 km coastline. Many neighboring states reject the Moroccan administration of Western Sahara.

Western Sahara is a disputed territory in Africa, with Morocco claiming ownership and the Polisario Front claiming as the independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Some countries around the world do recognize the SADR as an independent nation. Recently, in 2011, the ruling forces here decided to move the administrative capital to Tafariti. The location of this city is between the Sahrawi refugee camps and an important religious site, known as Smara, in the northeastern region of the country. It lies just 9 miles north of the border with Mauritania. The population of this city is believed to be around 3,000 individuals. The entire Western Sahara region has only around 30,000 residents. Because of the harsh desert conditions and political instability of Western Sahara, Tifariti is not a popular or common tourist destination. It houses only some very basic administrative buildings, like a school, hospital, and military headquarters. The climate here experiences extremely hot and arid conditions that make it difficult for vegetation to thrive. The two hottest months are in July and August, while the two coldest months are in December and January.

Geography

Western Sahara has a mean elevation of 256 m above sea level.

The climate is arid, although it is temperate in the mountainous regions and hot and humid along the west coast. Its terrain is mostly low, with flat deserts and small mountains.

Population

Western Sahara has a population of 587,020 making it the 169th largest in the world. The majority of the population resides in Laayoune.

Standard Arabic is the national language. The most common ethnic groups are Arab and Berber. The majority of the population identifies as Muslim.

Western Sahara, a disputed territory, is controlled by Morocco and the Polisario Front. The Polisario Front has claimed its controlled area to be an independent nation, known as Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In the Moroccan controlled areas of Western Sahara, Standard Arabic and Berber are considered the official languages. In the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), however, Spanish and Standard Arabic are the official languages. Although Spanish, Standard Arabic, and Berber are the official languages throughout Western Sahara, they are not the most widely spoken. This distinction is often assigned to Moroccan Arabic, which is believed to be used as the daily spoken language by the majority of the population here. It is, therefore, recommended to learn some phrases in this language if planning to visit Western Sahara. Additionally, Hassaniya Arabic is sometimes considered the national language of the area.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Western Sahara's GDP is $906,500,000.00 (USD) with $2,500.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 203rd largest economy and its citizens the 190th richest in the world. The currency of Western Sahara is the Dirham (MAD).

Its major imports include fuel for fishing fleet, and foodstuffs.

Flag

Western Sahara is a territory in northern Africa. its ownership is currently under dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The flag of Western Sahara, as a territory of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, was officially adopted in February of 1976. Because of the territorial dispute, however, Morocco refuses to recognize the validity of this flag and instead uses its national flag to represent the region. The flag of Western Sahara is a black, white, and green horizontal tricolor with a red triangle along the left side. The tip of the triangle points toward the center of the flag. Additionally, a red crescent moon and a 5-pointed star are situated at the center of the white colored band. Each of the colors and symbols on this flag have a special meaning to Western Sahara. Primarily, the flag is recognized as a representation of the Pan-Arab movement, a political ideology aimed at bring Arab nations together in a sense of nationalism.