The Sahrawis have been in disputes over their territory for ages. There are important things you need to know about Western Sahara, most especially their history and why they aren’t recognized as a country yet.
Western Sahara is located in the North Africa area in Africa, bounded by the Northern Atlantic to the West. The land is popular for its deserts, harsh hot climate and its complicated history.
It is not yet recognized as a country as it is still being detable who owns the Western Sahara. The population is about 500,009 of which over 37% live in Morocco-controlled Laayoune.
Here Are The Things You Need To Know About Western Sahara;
Once Owned By Spain, Mauritania. Currently Owned By Morocco
Western Sahara was occupied by the Spanish government until 1975. It was called Spanish Sahara. It has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. In 1965, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on the territory, asking Spain to decolonize the terrritory.
A year later, a resolution was passed requesting that a referendum be held by Spain on Self-determination.
Shortly After, Spain relinquished its administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco and Mauritania. However, Mauritania withdrew its claim in 1979 after a war erupted between itself and Morocco over the territory. As a result, Morocco secured the de-facto control of most of the territory including all major cities and most natural resources.
However, the UN-backed Polisario Front has been proclaiming itself as the rightful owner of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The United Nations considers the Polisario Front to be the legitimate representative of Sahrawi people. The UN also maintains that the Sahrawis have a right to self-determination.
However, most of the territory was continued to be administered by the Moroccan government with support from France and the United States. The remaining 20% is controlled by the Algeria-backed SADR.
Sahrawi Pester
Western Sahara currency is Sahrawi pester but it has never been printed or adopted. However, the currency situation in the country is complex.
Since Morocco owns Western Sahara, the currency use there is the Moroccan dirham. Mauritanian auguiyes and Algerian dinars are also relatively in use alongside the Moroccan dirham.
Most of the Western Sahara population at the refugee camp make use of the Sahrawi peseta with the mentioned currencies.
Its Capital is Laayoune
The capital city of Western Sahara is Laayoune. Laayoune means “water source”. It is home to hot desert and this hot desert are used in movie productions as backgrounds. Movies such as ‘Mummy’ and ‘Prince of Persia’ both have their movie backgrounds shot here.
The Language
The languge spoken in Western Sahara is Hassaniya, an Arabic dialect. The dialect is mostly common in the refugee camps.
Spanish, French and Moroccan Arabic are also used alongside Hassaniya. English is spoken, but very little.
Sahrawi Fashion
Fashion is a big culture in Western Sahara. The trusty “scarfs” is regarded as a proper fashion item. Every street you passed through in the country has stalls that sell hundreds and thousands of scarves.
In some stalls, you will also see a few of the scarfs having the whole pattern of the Western Sahara flag itself. You will look like a real Sahrawi when you rock the scarf with the pattern of the Western Sahara flag.
Green March
As we have mentioned, Western Sahara was known as Spanish Sahara, as the land once belonged to the Spaniards. The Spaniards gave up the land due to colonial pressure.
The Incident of Morocco claiming the land for themselves is known as “Green March”. This is where thousands of Morocco’s people walked into the territory of Spanish Sahara to take over the land. There is a monument right at the border that marks this historic event.
Boujdour
This is the port city of Western Sahara. It is renowned for its vintage lighthouse that dates back to the era of the Portugese settlers.
However, you can’t visit the lighthouse because it is surrounded with a military base but you can view it from afar. You will see the native Sahrawis loading and offloading cartons of fish at anytime of the hour. There are many restaurants and road stalls near Boujdour that makes use of the fishes.
Dakhla City
This is the second biggest city in the land. It is the fun and party city of the country. There are water springs, schools, ostrich farm, desert golfing, white dunes, etc. The city is also a house to many bars.
SADR Still In Battle With Morocco
Morocco and Polisario Front have sought to boost their claims by accumulating formal recognition especially from African, Asian and Latin America states. The Polisian Front has over over formal recognition from 46 states and has been extended membership of the African Union.
Meanwhile, Morocco has won supports from several African governments and countries in the Arab League.
In 1984, the OAU recognized the SADR as one of its full members, in the same level as Morocco. Morocco protested against it until it had its memebership suspended from the union.
After a long while, Morocco was readmitted into the union in 2017, after pledging the conflicting claims over SADR would be resolved peacefully and it would stop building walls to extend its military control on the territory.
Although, no formal statement has been issued on the border separarting the sovereign territories of Morocco and the SADR. Instead, the AU works with the UN mission to maintain ceasefire and reach a peace agreement. The African Union provides a peacekeeping contingent to the UN mission which is used to control a buffer zone near the de-factor border walls by Morocco.
Western Sahara is the last African colonial state yet to achieve independence and has been dubbed “Africa’s last colony”.
Conclusion
Western Sahara may not be officially recognized as a country but it surely is an interesting place to be.
