Western Sahara (EH in ISO 3166-1) is a territory of northwestern Africa, bordering Morocco on the north, Algeria on the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The largest city is El Aaiún (Laayoune), containing the majority of the population.

Whether it is part of Morocco or is the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), is disputed. At present it is largely occupied, and entirely claimed, by Morocco, but this claim is far from universally recognized and in fact a majority of other nations do not recognize the Moroccan claim.

In the peace plan a future Western Sahara Authority (WSA) is envisaged.

Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, with some rankings listing it as the least dense.

الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية
Al-Jumhūrīyâ al-Arabīyâ as-Ṣaḥrāwīyâ ad-Dīmuqrātīyâ

(In detail) (In detail)
National motto: none
Official language	Arabic
Capital and largest city	El Aaiún (Laayoune)
President (in exile)	Mohamed Abdelaziz
Prime Minister (in exile)	Abdelkader Taleb Oumar
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 83rd 266,000 km² Negligible
Population  - Total  - Density	Ranked 182nd 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 1/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Claimed and controlled	From Spain  February 27, 1976  By Morocco
Currency	Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
Time zone	UTC 0
National anthem	n/a
Internet TLD	None (.eh is reserved)
Calling Code	+ 212 (same code as Morocco)

History

Main article: History of Western Sahara

Morocco occupied the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war carried by the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. The 1991 peace accords included an agreement on the carrying out of a referendum among the indigenous population. The referendum was planned to give the population the option between independence or inclusion to Morocco. The referendum has, however, to this date not been carried out due to conflict over who is entitled to vote.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Western Sahara

The legal status of the territory and the question of its sovereignty is unresolved; the territory is contested by Morocco and Polisario Front.

See also Foreign relations of Morocco, Foreign relations of Western Sahara

Map of Western Sahara

Geography

Main article: Geography of Western Sahara

Western Sahara is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco. It also borders Algeria to the northeast.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Western Sahara

Western Sahara has few natural resources and lacks sufficient rainfall for most agricultural activities. Its economy is centred around nomadic herding, fishing, and phosphate mining. Most food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below those of Morocco.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Western Sahara

As of July 2004 there are an estimated 267,405 people living in the territory of Western Sahara, most of the Sahrawi nationality. They speak Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic and Spanish. The main religion is Islam.

From the CIA World Factbook 2004

See also

• Communications in Western Sahara
• Transportation in Western Sahara
• Culture of Western Sahara (Music of Western Sahara)
• List of cities in Morocco and Western Sahara
• Moroccan Wall
• MINURSO

External links

• http://www.arso.org/
• http://www.wsahara.net/
• http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/suttonlink/334ws.pdf
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update/
• Western Sahara, Landmine Monitor Report 2003