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Western Sahara (EH in ISO 3166-1) is a region 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 Laayoune.
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.
History
Main article: History of Western Sahara
Morocco virtually annexed 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.
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
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, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the 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 the Moroccan level.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Western Sahara
As of July 2003 there are an estimated 261,794 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 2003
See also
External links
ar:الصحراء الغربية
da:Vestsahara
de:Westsahara
eo:Okcidenta Saharo
et:Lääne-Sahara
es:Sahara Occidental
fr:Sahara occidental
id:Sahara Barat
it:Sahara Occidentale
ja:西サハラ
ms:Sahara Barat
nl:Westelijke Sahara
no:Vest-Sahara
pt:Saara Ocidental
sl:Zahodna Sahara
sv:Västsahara
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