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| '''Western Sahara''' (Sahara meaning desert) was one of the ] territories occupied by ], |
'''Western Sahara''' (Sahara meaning desert) was one of the ] territories occupied by ], similar to the current cases of ] and ] in the north. It is bordered by ] on the south and east, and the ] on the west. The largest city is El Aaiún (]), containing the majority of the population. | ||
| Whether it is part of Morocco or is independently controlled by the ] - financed by Algeria and Libya - is disputed. | Whether it is part of Morocco or is independently controlled by the ] - financed by Algeria and Libya - is disputed. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
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| ] recovered the northern two-thirds of its Sahara territories peacefully from Spain (formerly ]) in ]-], and the rest of the territory in ], following ]'s withdrawal. A guerrilla war carried by the ] contesting ]'s sovereignty ended in a ] ]; a ] on final status mandated in the cease-fire agreement has been repeatedly postponed. | ] recovered the northern two-thirds of its Sahara territories peacefully from Spain (formerly ]) in ]-], and the rest of the territory in ], following ]'s withdrawal. A guerrilla war carried by the ] contesting ]'s sovereignty ended in a ] ]; a ] on final status mandated in the cease-fire agreement has been repeatedly postponed. | ||
| The referendum, originally scheduled for ], was |
The referendum, originally scheduled for ], was delayed to give time to settle the dispute. At the heart of the dispute leading to the delays lay the question of who can be registered as an indigenous voter, since many tribes from the Algerian desert settled in the Moroccan part to shift votes. The ] had no power or political will to try to force a solution on either party. In ] the ] made another attempt to implement the referendum, but again it failed. A US-backed document known as the "] peace plan" was discussed by the UN security council in 2000. In ], ] ] reported increased military activity on both sides of the front and breaches of several cease-fire provisions against strengthening military fortifications. | ||
| A US-backed document known as the "] peace plan" was discussed by the UN security council in 2000. | |||
| In ], ] ] reported increased military activity on both sides of the front and breaches of several cease-fire provisions against strengthening military fortifications. | |||
| Morocco, uneasy with the UN process, has repeatedly tried to replace it with bilateral negotiations with Algeria, receiving vocal support from ] and occasionally and currently from the ]. These negotiations would define the exact limits of a Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan rule, but only after Morocco's "inalienable right" to the territory was recognized as a precondition to the talks. The Algerian goverment has consistently refused, pointing instead to the Polisario representatives of Western Sahara. | Morocco, uneasy with the UN process, has repeatedly tried to replace it with bilateral negotiations with Algeria, receiving vocal support from ] and occasionally and currently from the ]. These negotiations would define the exact limits of a Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan rule, but only after Morocco's "inalienable right" to the territory was recognized as a precondition to the talks. The Algerian goverment has consistently refused, pointing instead to the Polisario representatives of Western Sahara. | ||
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| Western Sahara has few natural resources and lacks sufficient rainfall for most agricultural activities. Its economy is centred around ]ic herding, fishing, and ] mining. Most food for the urban population must be imported. | Western Sahara has few natural resources and lacks sufficient rainfall for most agricultural activities. Its economy is centred around ]ic herding, fishing, and ] mining. Most food for the urban population must be imported. | ||
| The refugee camps in ], Algeria, are wholly reliant on foreign and Algerian aid. Food, clothing and even water are brought in by car and plane. Since the nineties a rudimentary monetary economy has evolved in the camps, after Spain started paying pensions to former forcibly recruited Sahrawi soldiers in its colonial army, and with money and merchandise brought in by Sahrawis working or studying abroad. A minor but significant addition comes from those Sahrawis pursuing traditional nomadic camel-herding in the Polisario-controlled parts of Western Sahara and in |
The refugee camps in ], Algeria, are wholly reliant on foreign and Algerian aid. Food, clothing and even water are brought in by car and plane. Since the nineties a rudimentary monetary economy has evolved in the camps, after Spain started paying pensions to former forcibly recruited Sahrawi soldiers in its colonial army, and with money and merchandise brought in by Sahrawis working or studying abroad. A minor but significant addition comes from those Sahrawis pursuing traditional nomadic camel-herding in the Polisario-controlled parts of Western Sahara and in Mauritania. | ||
| == Demographics == | == Demographics == | ||
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| ''Main article: ]'' | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| The ]s |
The ]s are ]s or ] people who speak the ] dialect of ], also spoken in northern Mauritania. They are of mixed Arab-Berber descent, but consider themselves ]. | ||
| In recent years, the West has been introduced to their culture through the release of a handful of compact discs of Sahrawi music, notably the political songs by the pro-Polisario refugee group ]. The Sahrawis are ]s of the ] sect and the ] law school like all Moroccans. Their interpretation of Islam has traditionally being quite liberal and adapted to nomad life (i.e. generally functioning without mosques). | In recent years, the West has been introduced to their culture through the release of a handful of compact discs of Sahrawi music, notably the political songs by the pro-Polisario refugee group ]. The Sahrawis are ]s of the ] sect and the ] law school like all Moroccans. Their interpretation of Islam has traditionally being quite liberal and adapted to nomad life (i.e. generally functioning without mosques). | ||
Revision as of 10:55, 17 September 2005
Western Sahara (Sahara meaning desert) was one of the Moroccan territories occupied by Spain, similar to the current cases of Ceuta and Melilla in the north. It is bordered by Mauritania on the south and east, 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 independently controlled by the Polisario Front - financed by Algeria and Libya - is disputed.
History
Main article: History of Western Sahara
Morocco recovered the northern two-thirds of its Sahara territories peacefully from Spain (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1975-1976, 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 mandated in the cease-fire agreement has been repeatedly postponed.
The referendum, originally scheduled for 1992, was delayed to give time to settle the dispute. At the heart of the dispute leading to the delays lay the question of who can be registered as an indigenous voter, since many tribes from the Algerian desert settled in the Moroccan part to shift votes. The UN had no power or political will to try to force a solution on either party. In 1997 the Houston Agreement made another attempt to implement the referendum, but again it failed. A US-backed document known as the "James Baker peace plan" was discussed by the UN security council in 2000. In 2005, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan reported increased military activity on both sides of the front and breaches of several cease-fire provisions against strengthening military fortifications.
Morocco, uneasy with the UN process, has repeatedly tried to replace it with bilateral negotiations with Algeria, receiving vocal support from France and occasionally and currently from the United States. These negotiations would define the exact limits of a Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan rule, but only after Morocco's "inalienable right" to the territory was recognized as a precondition to the talks. The Algerian goverment has consistently refused, pointing instead to the Polisario representatives of Western Sahara.
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
Subdivisions
Currently, Western Sahara is largely administered by Morocco. The extent of Morocco's administration is north and west of the berm, approximately two-thirds of the territory. The Moroccan name for Western Sahara is the "Southern Provinces" - Río de Oro and Saguia el-Hamra. The remaining area is administered by the SADR. When the territory was a dependency of Spain, the same two subdivisions existed.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Western Sahara
Western Sahara is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, and Mauritania
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. The refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, are wholly reliant on foreign and Algerian aid. Food, clothing and even water are brought in by car and plane. Since the nineties a rudimentary monetary economy has evolved in the camps, after Spain started paying pensions to former forcibly recruited Sahrawi soldiers in its colonial army, and with money and merchandise brought in by Sahrawis working or studying abroad. A minor but significant addition comes from those Sahrawis pursuing traditional nomadic camel-herding in the Polisario-controlled parts of Western Sahara and in Mauritania.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Western Sahara
Culture
Main article: Culture of Western Sahara
The Sahrawis are nomads or Bedouin people who speak the Hassaniya dialect of Arabic, also spoken in northern Mauritania. They are of mixed Arab-Berber descent, but consider themselves Arab.
In recent years, the West has been introduced to their culture through the release of a handful of compact discs of Sahrawi music, notably the political songs by the pro-Polisario refugee group El-Wali. The Sahrawis are Muslims of the Sunni sect and the Maliki law school like all Moroccans. Their interpretation of Islam has traditionally being quite liberal and adapted to nomad life (i.e. generally functioning without mosques).
The organization governing the camps, the Polisario Front, has methodically attempted to modernize Sahrawi society, placing great emphasis especially on education, the eradication of tribalism and the emancipation of women. The role of women was enhanced by their shouldering of the main responsibility for the refugee camps and government bureaucracy during the war years, as a group of Algerian-backed male was enrolled in the Polisario army.
Education was also assisted. While teaching materials are still scarce, the "urbanization" of the camps and the abundance of free time for camp dwellers (after the situation normalized circa 1977) greatly increased the effectiveness of literacy classes. Today, nearly 90% of refugee Sahrawis are able to read and write, the number having been less than 10% in 1975, and several thousands have received university educations in foreign countries as part of aid packages (mainly Algeria, Cuba and Spain).