Western Sahara

Western Sahara Background

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 with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.

Western Sahara Information

• Population: 267,405 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
• Location:: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
• Religions:: Muslim
• Ethnic Groups:: Arab, Berber
• Land Boundaries:: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
• Area: total: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 266,000 sq km
• Coast Line: 1,110 km
• Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
• Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
• Maritime Claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
• Land Use: arable land: 0.02% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.98% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: sparse water and lack of arable land
• Natural Resources: phosphates, iron ore
• Highways: total: 6,200 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
• Airports: 11 (2003 est.)