Outline of Western Sahara

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The location of Western Sahara
The Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic that claims Western Sahara from Morocco
An enlargeable relief map of Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a disputed territory located in western North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the North Atlantic Ocean on the west.[1] It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The largest city is El Aaiún (Laâyoune), which is home to over half of the population of the territory.

Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.[2] The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) dispute control of the territory.

Since a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire agreement in 1991, most of the territory has been controlled by Morocco, with the remainder under the control of the Polisario/SADR, backed by Algeria.[3] Internationally, major powers such as the United States have taken a generally ambiguous and neutral position on each side's claims, and have pressed both parties to agree on a peaceful resolution. Both Morocco and Polisario have sought to boost their claims by accumulating formal recognition, essentially from African, Asian, and Latin American states in the developing world. Polisario has won formal recognition for SADR from roughly 45 states, and was extended membership in the African Union, while Morocco has won formal recognition for its position from 25 states, as well as the membership of the Arab League.[4][5] In both instances, recognitions have over the past two decades been extended and withdrawn according to changing international trends.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Western Sahara:

[edit] General reference

An enlargeable historical map of Western Sahara

[edit] Geography of Western Sahara

An enlargeable topographic map of Western Sahara
 Mauritania 1,561 km
 Morocco 443 km
 Algeria 42 km

[edit] Environment of Western Sahara

An enlargeable satellite image of Western Sahara

[edit] Natural geographic features of Western Sahara

[edit] Regions of Western Sahara

[edit] Ecoregions of Western Sahara

[edit] Administrative divisions of Western Sahara

[edit] Provinces of Western Sahara
[edit] Districts of Western Sahara
[edit] Municipalities of Western Sahara

[edit] Demography of Western Sahara

[edit] Government and politics of Western Sahara

Main article: Government of Western Sahara and Politics of Western Sahara

[edit] Branches of the government of Western Sahara

[edit] Executive branch of the government of Western Sahara

[edit] Legislative branch of the government of Western Sahara

[edit] Judicial branch of the government of Western Sahara

[edit] Foreign relations of Western Sahara

[edit] International organization membership

Western Sahara is a member of:[1]

[edit] Law and order in Western Sahara

[edit] Military of Western Sahara

[edit] Local government in Western Sahara

[edit] History of Western Sahara

Main article: History of Western Sahara, Timeline of the history of Western Sahara, and Current events of Western Sahara

[edit] Culture of Western Sahara

[edit] Art in Western Sahara

[edit] People of Western Sahara

[edit] Persons and personalities

[edit] Sports in Western Sahara

[edit] Economy and infrastructure of Western Sahara

[edit] Education in Western Sahara

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Western Sahara". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 3, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wi.html. Retrieved July 23, 2009. 
  2. ^ Whitfield, Teresa. Friends Indeed?: The United Nations, Groups of Friends, and the Resolution of Conflict. 2007, page 191.
  3. ^ Baehr, Peter R. The United Nations at the End of the 1990s. 1999, page 129.
  4. ^ Arab League supports Morocco's Territorial Integrity, Arabic News, Morocco-Regional, Politics, January 8, 1999. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
  5. ^ Arab League Withdraws Inaccurate Moroccan maps, Arabic News, Regional-Morocco, Politics, December 17, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
  6. ^ The only glaciers in Africa are on Mt Kenya (in Kenya), on Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania), and in the Ruwenzori Mountains (which are located in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). See Proceedings of the Riederalp Workshop, September 1978; Actes de l'Atelier de Riederalp, septembre 1978): IAHS-AISH Publ. no. 126, 1980.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Western Sahara

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