Western Sahara (Shara occidental)

Location

Western Sahara is a territory situated to the North West of the African continent.

It occupies an extension of approximately 250,000 square km.

Its territory is basically occupied by the Sahara desert

Water is scarce, so plants and animals are also scarce and have to adapt to the lack of water

Its main economic resources are phosphates, fishing and dromedary shepherding

Most of the population are of berber origin, although there is a minority of people who descend from the Spanish, and some African blacks.

Most people are muslims.

People speak hassaniyya, an Arabic dialect. Arabic is the official language.

But Spanish is also spoken! Why?

Western Sahara was occupied by Spain in 1884

Since then, the territory was considered a colony by Spain. But it wasn't occupied effectively until 1934

In 1973 the Frente Polisario was created

Their aim was to fight for the independence of Western Sahara from Spain.

In 1975, Morocco organised the so-called Marcha Verde

It was the time when the Spanish dictator Franco was seriously ill, so Morocco decided to invade Western Sahara, and they did it illegaly.

Their intention was to incorporate Western Sahara to Morocco.

In November 1975 (six days before the death of the Spanish dictator Franco), Spain decided to leave Western Sahara.

Spain decided that the territory of Western Sahara would be divided between Morocco and Mauritania.

However, Spain mantained that the inhabitants of Western Sahara had the right to decide about their future democratically.

Thus, the Western Saharans would vote in a referendum in order to decide if they wanted to become and independent country.

But that referendum has never been celebrated.

On February 27th, 1976 the Moroccan army occupied Western Sahara illegaly.

As a consequence, Frente Polisario proclaimed the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic

A war between Morocco, Mauritania and the SADR broke out.

However, Mauritania signed a peace treaty with the Saharawis in 1978.

And Algeria allowed thousands of Saharawi refugees to settle in Tinduf, a refugee camp.

Between 1980 and 1987, the Moroccans built a wall that separated the territory controlled by the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and the territory invaded by the Moroccans.

This wall is controlled by 100,000 Moroccan soldiers.

The Moroccans have also fixed anti personnel mines, which can cause the death of the innocent people who step on them.

Also, Morocco has allowed about 200,000 Moroccans to settle in Western Sahara.

War between Morocco and SADR officially ended in 1991

The SADR wants the United Nations plan of organising a referendum to be acomplished.

Meanwhile, the Saharawi people survive in the refugee camps in Algeria, or have to suffer the illegal occupation of their territory by Morocco.

Morocco does not allow demonstrations of people who demand the independence of Western Sahara. Torture and repression is applied to citizens who complain.

However, Saharawi and Spanish protesters usually organise demonstrations in our country against this illegal occupation.