The Western Sahara is an isolated territory located on the far northwestern coast of Africa. The territory is bordered by Morocco to the south and Mauritania to the west. The Western Sahara has been claimed by Morocco since 1975, and the dispute has been ongoing for over three decades. The territory is inhabited by the Sahrawi people, who have fought for independence from Morocco.
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Western Sahara On Africa Map
The Western Sahara is a disputed territory located in the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordered by Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. It is the largest non-self-governing territory in the African continent, and its population is mainly composed of Sahrawi people. The Western Sahara is a sparsely populated desert region, and its economy depends largely on fishing and phosphate mining. The region has been a source of conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, an organization that advocates for the independence of the Western Sahara. The United Nations has been involved in trying to resolve the conflict, to no avail. Although the region is not officially recognized as a state, it appears on many maps of Africa, and its presence is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for independence in the region.
Geography of Western Sahara
The African nation of Western Sahara is an intriguing land of mystery and beauty. Located on the western coast of the continent, bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria, it has long been a source of conflict and intrigue. With its unique geography and distinct culture, Western Sahara has much to offer the curious traveler.
Western Sahara is a sparsely populated area, with an estimated population of just over 500,000. The landscape is mostly desert, with vast stretches of sand and gravel. The terrain is rugged and mountainous, with some areas rising up to 1,000 meters. In the central and western parts of the country, the Sahara Desert dominates the landscape, and there are no permanent settlements.
The climate of Western Sahara is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 40 degrees Celsius in the winter and up to 50 degrees Celsius in the summer. The region receives very little rainfall, and the terrain is generally arid and rocky.
The main source of income for the people of Western Sahara is agriculture, with some livestock rearing and fishing. The main exports are fish and salt. There is also a small tourism industry, with camping and outdoor activities becoming increasingly popular.
The people of Western Sahara are mostly of Berber origin, and the official language is Spanish. Many of the inhabitants practice traditional religions, including Islam, Christianity, and Animism.
Western Sahara is a fascinating region, with its unique geography, culture, and people. It is a land of mystery and beauty, and a great destination for those who wish to explore a region unlike any other.
Political Status of Western Sahara
The political status of the Western Sahara remains one of the most contested and contentious issues in African geopolitics. It is a region that is highly contested between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The Western Sahara is a sparsely populated desert region spanning around 100,000 square kilometers, located on the western coast of Africa.
The region has long been a source of contention between Morocco and the Sahrawi people, who have sought independence for the region since the 1970s. The region is currently under Moroccan occupation, with Morocco claiming sovereignty over the region in 1975. This occupation has been heavily criticized by the United Nations, which has called for a referendum on the region’s political status.
The Moroccan government has consistently rejected the idea of a referendum on the region’s political status, arguing that the region should remain part of Morocco. In addition, the Moroccan government has sought to promote its claim to the region by constructing several walls along the border of the Western Sahara. This has been heavily criticized by human rights organizations, who argue that the walls are a violation of basic human rights.
The Sahrawi people have long sought self-determination and independence for the Western Sahara. This has been a source of tension between Morocco and the Sahrawi people, with Morocco often using military force to suppress Sahrawi protests.
The United Nations has consistently called for a referendum on the political status of the Western Sahara, but this has been blocked by Morocco. In the absence of a resolution to the dispute, the region remains in a state of limbo, with neither Morocco nor the Sahrawi people able to assert control over the region.
The political status of the Western Sahara is likely to remain one of the most contentious issues in African geopolitics for the foreseeable future. The regional tensions between Morocco and the Sahrawi people are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, and the region will remain a source of contention for both sides for many years to come.
Role of the African Union in Western Sahara
The African Union (AU) has played an important role in Western Sahara, a disputed territory on the northwest coast of Africa. Located between Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania, the region has long been the subject of a territorial dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, an indigenous Sahrawi movement seeking self-determination.
The AU has been involved in the conflict since its inception, beginning with the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. The OAU was the predecessor to the AU and was formed in order to promote unity and solidarity among African countries. During the 1970s and 1980s, the OAU consistently supported the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and the AU has continued this stance since its formation in 2002.
In 2003, the AU established the African Union Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (AMUSAR) to monitor, observe, and report on the implementation of the Settlement Plan, a UN-backed plan that outlined a referendum process for the region. AMUSAR consisted of a number of military and civilian personnel and was tasked with ensuring the safety and security of the people of Western Sahara as they participated in the referendum process.
The AU has also played a role in mediating the conflict. In 2007, the AU appointed a Special Representative to the Sahara and launched a mediation effort, called the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in Western Sahara (AIPRS). This initiative aimed to bring together the parties involved in the conflict, including Morocco and the Polisario Front, in order to find a peaceful solution.
In recent years, the AU has continued to call for a peaceful resolution to the Western Sahara conflict and to support the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. In 2017, the AU held a summit in Western Sahara, in which the organization reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict and the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people.
The role of the African Union in Western Sahara has been an important one, as the organization has consistently supported the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and has advocated for a peaceful solution to the conflict. As the region continues to be the subject of a decades-long territorial dispute, the AU’s role in the conflict will remain an important one.
Conclusion
The Western Sahara occupies the southern tip of Africa. The area is disputed by Morocco and Algeria. Morocco claims the territory as part of its historic region of Mauretania, while Algeria contends that the area is part of its territory, the Sahara desert. The Polisario Front, a Sahrawi liberation movement, has fought for independence for the Western Sahara since the late 1960s. The conflict has led to a stalemate and limited progress towards resolving the issue.
