Western Sahara Government

Map showing the location of Western Sahara

The disputed territory of Western Sahara is currently under the control of the government of Morocco and the Polisario Front political group. The regions under Morrocan rule are governed by a parliamentary monarchy, which means the country is lead by a royal family member. The Prime Minister acts as Head of Government and oversees the bicameral legislative body. The two legislative bodies are the Assembly of Councillors and the Assembly of Representatives.

The regions under the Polisario Front are known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which is considered an independent nation by many countries. This government is lead by a President, who acts as Head of State. Legislative duties are carried out by the National Council, which is lead by the Prime Minister, who acts as Head of Government.

The citizens of Moroccan controlled areas participate in the elections of Morocco, which take place only to elect the members of Parliament. The citizens elect 270 members to serve on the Assembly of Councillors for a 9-year term and 325 members to serve on the Assembly of Representatives for a 5-year term.

The residents of the the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic regions, as well as the Sahrawi population living in refugee camps in Algeria, take part in elections for this country. These individuals elect the members of the National Council. Member of the Polisario Front meet at a General Popular Congress and appoint the National Secretaria. The Secretary General of this body becomes the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The President then appoints the Prime Minister.

The House of Parliament of Morocco is located in Rabat, the national capital. It is a red, 2-story building with 6 large columns along the front entrance area. Its members meet in the principal room, which has seating situated in a circular shape that faces a higher podium of additional seating.

The Sahrawi National Council meets in several locations, depending on where it can safely carry out its duties. The government of this partially recognized nation largely acts as a government in exile and in the past met in El-Aaiun, the largest city in Western Sahara. This city, however is in Moroccan controlled territory. Currently, the government has declared the town of Tifariti to be the new, temporary capital. This town has been the site of several General Congress and National Council meetings.

Morocco has a multiparty political system. The parties in power in the House of Councillors include: Istiqlal Party (24 seats), Authenticity and Modernity Party (23 seats), and Justice and Development Party (12 seats). Those in power in the House of Representatives include: Justice and Development Party (125 seats), National Rally of Independents (37 seats), and Popular Movement (27 seats).

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic does not allow political parties at this time.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


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
Learn More	Western Sahara

Western Sahara Government

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