Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
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Motto: حرية، ديمقراطية، وحدة ( El Aaiún (de jure) 27°9′N 13°12′W / 27.150°N 13.200°W | |
Capital-in-exile |
|
Official languages | |
Spoken languages | |
Religion | semi-presidential republic |
Brahim Ghali | |
Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun | |
Legislature | National Council |
Formation | |
14 November 1975 | |
• Republic declared | 27 February 1976 |
• Sovereignty disputed over Western Sahara with Morocco | Ongoing |
controlled) (77th) | |
• Water (%) | Negligible |
Population | |
• Estimate | 607,292 (2021 est.) |
GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Per capita | $2,500 (2007 est.)[8] (197th) |
Currency | Sahrawi peseta (de jure) (EHP) De facto |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Date format | dd/mm/yyyy (AD) |
Driving side | right |
ISO 3166 code | EH |
Internet TLD | .eh (reserved) |
Part of a series on the |
Western Sahara conflict |
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Background |
Regions |
Politics |
Clashes |
Issues |
Peace process |
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,[d] also known as the Sahrawi Republic and Western Sahara, is a partially recognized state, recognized by 46 UN member states and South Ossetia, located in the western Maghreb, which claims the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, but controls only the easternmost one-fifth of that territory. Between 1884 and 1975, Western Sahara was known as Spanish Sahara, a Spanish colony (later an overseas province). The SADR is one of the two African states in which Spanish is a significant language, the other being Equatorial Guinea.
The SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on 27 February 1976, in Bir Lehlou, Western Sahara. The SADR government calls the territories under its control the Liberated Territories or the Free Zone. Morocco controls and administers the rest of the disputed territory, and calls these lands its Southern Provinces. The claimed capital city of the SADR is El Aaiún (the capital of the territory of Western Sahara). Since the SADR does not control El Aaiún, it has established a temporary capital in Tifariti, although most of the day-to-day administration happens in Rabuni, one of the Sahrawi refugee camps located in Tindouf, Algeria.
The SADR maintains diplomatic relations with 46 United Nations states, and is a full member of the African Union. With a population of about half a million, it is the most sparsely populated in Africa, and the second-most sparsely populated in the world.[10]
Etymology
The name Sahrawi is the romanization of the Arabic word Ṣaḥrāwī صحراوي, meaning 'Inhabitant of the Desert'. The word Ṣaḥrāwī صحراوي then is derived from the Arabic word Ṣaḥrāʼ (صحراء), meaning 'desert'.[citation needed]
History
Following the evacuation of the Spaniards, due to the Moroccan Green March, Spain, Morocco, and Mauritania signed the Madrid Accords on 14 November 1975, six days before Francisco Franco died. Morocco and Mauritania responded by annexing the territory of Western Sahara. On 26 February 1976, Spain informed the United Nations (UN) that as of that date it had terminated its presence in Western Sahara and relinquished its responsibilities, which left the region devoid of any Administering Power.[11] Neither Morocco nor Mauritania gained international recognition, and war ensued with the independence-seeking Polisario Front. The UN considers the Polisario Front to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and maintains that the people of Western Sahara have a right to "self-determination and independence".[12]
The creation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was proclaimed on 27 February 1976, as the Polisario declared the need for a new entity to fill what they considered a political void left by the departing Spanish colonizers. While the claimed capital is the former Western Sahara capital El-Aaiún (which is in Moroccan-controlled territory), the proclamation was made in the government-in-exile's provisional capital, Bir Lehlou, which remained in Polisario-held territory under the 1991 ceasefire (see Settlement Plan). On 27 February 2008, the provisional capital was formally moved to Tifariti.[13][14] Day-to-day business, however, is conducted in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf Province, Algeria, which house most of the Sahrawi exile community.
Constitution
A new 1999 Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic took a form similar to the
The broad guidelines laid down in the constitution for an eventual Western Saharan state include eventual multi-party democracy with a market economy. The constitution also defines Sahrawis as a Muslim, African and Arab people.[15] The Constitution also declares a commitment to the principles of human rights and to the concept of a Greater Maghreb, as a regional variant of Pan-Arabism.[citation needed]
Government structure
Since August 1982, the highest office of the republic has been the
Its various ministries are responsible for a variety of services and functions. The
The SNC is weak in its legislative role, having been instituted as a mainly consultative and
The Sahrawi National Council is composed of 53 members, all from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro.[citation needed]
Military
The
Economy
The SADR in its controlled territories uses the Sahrawi Peseta although the majority of the country uses the Moroccan Dirham.
Demographics
All data about demographic information regarding Western Sahara are extremely error-prone, regardless of source. Most countries take censuses every ten years, and some every five in order to stay abreast of change and miscounts; the last count was conducted in 1970, and even that data by colonial Spain is considered unreliable due to large nomadic populations.
Following the 1975 Green March, the Moroccan state has sponsored settlement schemes enticing thousands of Moroccans to move into the Moroccan-occupied part of Western Sahara (80% of the territory). By 2015, it was estimated that Moroccan settlers made up at least two thirds of the 500,000 inhabitants.[19] Under international law, Morocco's transfer of its own civilians into Non-Self-Governing territory is in direct violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.[20]
The religion in Western Sahara isReligion
The predominant religion practiced by Sahrawis is the
The
Language
Area of authority
The SADR acted as a government administration in the Sahrawi refugee camps located in the Tindouf Province of western Algeria. It is headquartered in Camp Rabouni, south of Tindouf, although some official events have taken place in towns in the Free Zone, including the provisional capitals, first Bir Lehlou until 2008, then Tifariti. The government of the SADR claims sovereignty over all of the Western Sahara territory, but has control only within the Free Zone. Several foreign aid agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and non-governmental organizations, are continually active in the camps.
International recognition and membership
As of September 2022, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has been recognized by 85 states. Of these, 39 have since "frozen" or "withdrawn" recognition for a number of reasons. A total of 29 UN states maintain an embassy from the SADR, with Vietnam being the only nation not hosting an embassy but only sending their own mission[25] Sahrawi embassies exist in 18 states. 6 UN states have other diplomatic relations, while a further 9 UN nations and South Ossetia[26] also recognize the state either by previous regimes or through international agreements in the past, but do not have any active relations at the moment (see foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic for more details).
Chile,[27] Australia,[28] Brazil,[29][30][31][32] and Sweden[33] have all internally voted to recognize the SADR, but none have yet ratified it.
Although it is not recognized by the UN, the SADR has held full membership of the
The SADR also participated in a conference of the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of the Latin American and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) in 2006;[40] the SADR ambassador to Nicaragua participated in the opening conference of the Central American Parliament in 2010,[41] and a SADR delegation participated in the meeting of COPPPAL and International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Mexico City in 2012.[42]
On 27 February 2011, the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of SADR was held in Tifariti, Western Sahara. Delegations, including parliamentarians, ambassadors, NGOs and activists from many countries participated in this event.[43][44]
The SADR is not a member of the Arab League, nor of the Arab Maghreb Union, both of which include Morocco as a full member.
Proposed Western Sahara Authority
Under the
In April 2007, the government of Morocco suggested that a self-governing entity, through the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), should govern the territory with some degree of autonomy for Western Sahara. The project was presented to the UN Security Council in mid-April 2007. A stalemate over the Moroccan proposal led the UN, in an April 2007 "Report of the UN Secretary-General", to ask the parties to enter into direct and unconditional negotiations to reach a mutually accepted political solution.[45]
Sports
The SADR was invited to participate in the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, which would have been the country's debut at a major international sporting event. However, its thirteen athletes were not allowed to compete by the Congolese organizing committee.[46] The country has a national football team, but its governing body, the Sahrawi Football Federation, is not a member of FIFA or the Confederation of African Football.[47]
National holidays
Date | Name | Original event / Notes |
---|---|---|
27 February | Independence Day |
Proclamation of the SADR in Bir Lehlou, 1976 |
8 March | First Martyr | |
10 May | Foundation of the Polisario Front | The anniversary of the front's establishment in 1973 |
20 May | 20 May Revolution | Start of the armed struggle against Spain in 1973 |
9 June | Day of the Martyrs | Day on which El-Ouali died in 1976 |
17 June | Zemla Intifada | El-Aaiun , 1970
|
12 October | Day of National Unity | Celebrating the commemoration anniversary of the Ain Ben Tili Conference, 1975 |
Additionally, Muslim celebrations are kept according to the lunar Islamic calendar.
Date | Name | Observance |
---|---|---|
Muharram 1 | Islamic New Year | The anniversary of the Hijra from Mecca to Medina and the beginning of the lunar Islamic year |
Dhul Hijja 10 |
Eid al-Adha | Sacrifice feast |
Shawwal 1 | Eid al-Fitr | End of Ramadan |
Rabi' al-awwal 12 |
Mawlid | Birth of Muhammad |
Gallery
-
The Spanish actressSahara Film Festival.
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Commemoration of the 30th independence day in Tifariti,Liberated Territories, Western Sahara
See also
- Elections in Western Sahara
- Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- International recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- List of cities in Western Sahara
- Moroccan Western Sahara Wall
- Outline of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Polisario Front
- Political status of Western Sahara
- Politics of Western Sahara
Notes
- ^ It is described as the SADR's second official language[2][3][4][5][6]
- ^ In the Moroccan-occupied territories.
- ^ The euro is informally accepted in the Sahrawi refugee camps.[9]
- Arabic: الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية, romanized: al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʿArabīyah aṣ-Ṣaḥrāwīyah ad-Dīmuqrāṭīyah; Spanish: República Árabe Saharaui Democrática, pronounced [reˈpuβlik(a) ˈaɾaβe sa(a)ˈɾawi ðemoˈkɾatika]
References
- ^ SADR. "Constitution of the SADR" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ a b "الوفد الصحراوي سيحضر لقاء جنيف بإرادة صادقة للتقدم نحو الحل الذي يضمن حق الشعب الصحراوي في تقرير المصير والاستقلال". Sahara Press Service (in Arabic). 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023.
- ISBN 978-10-0080733-2.
- ISBN 978-1-84545-653-5.
- ISBN 978-1-135-07667-2.
- ^ Martos, Isabel (2014). Linguistic Policy in the Camps of Sahrawi Refugees. ECAS 2013, 5th European Conference on African Studies. Universidad de Alcalá. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "El Español en los Campamentos de Refugiados Saharauis (Tinduf, Algeria)" (PDF). Cvc.cervantes.es. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
economy.com/western-sahara/indicators
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Los campamentos de refugiados saharauis" [The Sahrawi refugee camps] (in Spanish). Una mirada al Sáhara Occidental. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
La divisa local es el dinar argelino, aunque se puede pagar casi todo en euros. La moneda mínima para hacer compras en los campamentos es el billete de 10€.
[The local currency is the Algerian dinar, although you can pay almost everything in euros. The minimum currency to make purchases in the camps is the €10 bill.] - ^ "Western Sahara Population 2023 (Live)".
- ^ "Letter dated 29 January 2002 from the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, the Legal Counsel, addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations. 29 January 2002. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "A/RES/34/37. Question of Western Sahara" (PDF). General Assembly—Thirty-fourth Session. United Nations. 1979. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Sahara Occidental – Actualités 2008, février". February 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Sahara Info" (PDF). March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ Article 6 of the Sahrawi constitution. Article 2 prescribes that "Islam is the state religion and source of law".
- ^ Zunes S; Mundy J (2010). Western Sahara: War, Nationalism, and Conflict Irresolution Syracuse University Press. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Report of the Fact-Finding Mission to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" (PDF). African Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights. September 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "تقرير موازي بمناسبة استعراض التقرير السادس للملكة المغربية حول تنفيذ مقتضيات العهد الدولي للحقوق المدنية و السياسية". اتحاد المحامين الصحراويين.
- ^ Shefte, Whitney (6 January 2015). "Western Sahara's stranded refugees consider renewal of Morocco conflict". the Guardian.
- ^ "Mixed Reviews for Morocco as Fourth Committee Hears Petitioners on Western Sahara, Amid Continuing Decolonization Debate | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases".
- CIA. Archived from the originalon 12 June 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2023.[]
- ^ Article 3 of the Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (2023-01-17)
- ^ Martos 2014, p. 1199–1202.
- ^ El español: una lengua viva — Informe 2022 [Spanish: a living language — 2022 report] (PDF) (Report). Instituto Cervantes. 2022. p. 10. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary Ambassador to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Mali, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Gambia, the Republic of Niger and the Arab Republic of Sarahoui". 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Semi-Recognized Western Sahara to Recognize South Ossetia | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "MRE | Declaración del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores". 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "afrol News - Australia may recognise Saharawi Republic". www.afrol.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Portal da Câmara dos Deputados". www.camara.leg.br. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Portal da Câmara dos Deputados". www.camara.leg.br. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Portal da Câmara dos Deputados". www.camara.leg.br. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "INS 3/2015 - Senado Federal". www25.senado.leg.br. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Sweden softens line on Western Sahara recognition in face of boycott threat". Sveriges Radio. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Morocco rejoins African Union". Worldbulletin. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "NAM reiterates support to right of Saharawi people to determination". Sahara Press Service. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "Algeria praises NAM's continued support to struggle of Saharawi people for self-determination". Sahara Press Service. 2 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "South Africa". ARSO – Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 9 September 2006. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- South African Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the originalon 29 September 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2006.
- ^ South African Broadcasting Corporation (2 September 2006). "Moroccan objections taint Asian-Africa meeting". South African Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2006.
- ^ Prensa Latina (11 September 2006). "LatAm, Caribbean Parties in Nicaragua". Prensa Latina. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2006.
- ^ "Saharawi Ambassador to Nicaragua receives delegation from Central American Parliament". SPS. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ "Saharawi Representation to Mexico attends COPPPAL-ICAPP meeting". Sahara Press Service. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "Western Sahara: 35 years of colonisation and exile is enough | Kenworthy News Media – development & socio-political issues". Stiffkitten.wordpress.com. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara" (PDF). UN Security Council. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.[dead link]
- ^ Pécout, Adrien (8 September 2015). "Jeux africains : le coureur révolté du peuple sahraoui" [African Games: the rebellious runner of the Sahrawi people]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "ALGERIA/MOROCCO/WESTERN SAHARA : Confederation of African Football rejects Sahrawi membership move". Africa Intelligence. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
External links
Official SADR pages
- (in Spanish) Polisario.es (Official website of the Sahrawi Delegation in Spain)
- (in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish) Sahara Press Service (SPS) (official SADR press agency)
- (in Arabic and Spanish) RASD TV (official TV channel)
- (in Arabic and Spanish) SADR National Radio (official radio channel)
- SADR Oil & Gas 2005 (SADR oil and gas licensing offer)
- (in Spanish) Sahara salud (dependency of the Health ministry of the SADR)
- (in Arabic and Spanish) Economic development ministry of the SADR
- (in Spanish) Ministry of Culture of the SADR
- (in Spanish) UJSARIO (Sahrawi Youth Union. Dakhla refugee camp section blog)
- (in Spanish) UNMS (Association of Sahrawi Women in Spain)
SADR pages
- (in Spanish) Sahara Today (Independent Digital Journal Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)
- (in Arabic and Spanish) Futuro Saharaui (Saharawi first independent magazine founded in 1999)
- (in Spanish) EFA Abidin Kaid Saleh de la RASD Audiovisual Education School Abidin Kaid Saleh of the SADR)
- (in Spanish) ARTifariti (International Meetings of the Art in the Liberated Territories of SADR)