- Outline of Western Sahara
-
The location of Western Sahara
An enlargeable relief map of Western SaharaWestern Sahara is a disputed territory located in western North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the North Atlantic Ocean on the west.[1] It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The largest city is El Aaiún (Laâyoune), which is home to over half of the population of the territory.
Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.[2] The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) dispute control of the territory.
Since a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire agreement in 1991, most of the territory has been controlled by Morocco, with the remainder under the control of the Polisario/SADR, backed by Algeria.[3] Internationally, major powers such as the United States have taken a generally ambiguous and neutral position on each side's claims, and have pressed both parties to agree on a peaceful resolution. Both Morocco and Polisario have sought to boost their claims by accumulating formal recognition, essentially from African, Asian, and Latin American states in the developing world. Polisario has won formal recognition for SADR from roughly 45 states, and was extended membership in the African Union, while Morocco has won formal recognition for its position from 25 states, as well as the membership of the Arab League.[4][5] In both instances, recognitions have over the past two decades been extended and withdrawn according to changing international trends.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Western Sahara:
General reference
An enlargeable historical map of Western Sahara- Pronunciation:
- Common English country name: Western Sahara
- Official English country name: none
- Common endonym(s):
- Official endonym(s):
- Adjectival(s): Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
- Demonym(s):
- Etymology: Name of Western Sahara
- ISO country codes: EH, ESH, 732
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:EH
- Internet country code top-level domain: .eh
Geography of Western Sahara
An enlargeable topographic map of Western SaharaMain article: Geography of Western Sahara- Western Sahara is: a country
- Location
- Western Sahara is situated within the following regions:
- Time zone: Coordinated Universal Time UTC+00
- Extreme points of Western Sahara
- High: unnamed location 805 m (2,641 ft)
- Low: Sebjet Tah −55 m (−180 ft)
- Land boundaries: 2,046 km
-
Mauritania 1,561 km
Morocco 443 km
Algeria 42 km
- Coastline: North Atlantic Ocean 1,110 km
- Population of Western Sahara: 480,000 - 167th most populous country
- Area of Western Sahara: 266,000 km2
- Atlas of Western Sahara
Environment of Western Sahara
An enlargeable satellite image of Western SaharaMain article: Environment of Western Sahara- Climate of Western Sahara
- Environmental issues in Western Sahara
- Ecoregions in Western Sahara
- Renewable energy in Western Sahara
- Geology of Western Sahara
- Protected areas of Western Sahara
- Biosphere reserves in Western Sahara
- National parks of Western Sahara
- Wildlife of Western Sahara
- Flora of Western Sahara
- Fauna of Western Sahara
- Birds of Western Sahara
- Mammals of Western Sahara
Natural geographic features of Western Sahara
Main article: Landforms of Western Sahara- Glaciers in Western Sahara: none [6]
- Islands of Western Sahara
- Lakes of Western Sahara
- Mountains of Western Sahara
- Volcanoes in Western Sahara
- Rivers of Western Sahara
- Waterfalls of Western Sahara
- Valleys of Western Sahara
- World Heritage Sites in Western Sahara: None
Regions of Western Sahara
Main article: Regions of Western SaharaEcoregions of Western Sahara
Main articles: List of ecoregions in Western Sahara and Ecoregions in Western SaharaAdministrative divisions of Western Sahara
Main article: Administrative divisions of Western Sahara- Provinces of Western Sahara
- Districts of Western Sahara
- Municipalities of Western Sahara
- Districts of Western Sahara
Provinces of Western Sahara
Main article: Provinces of Western SaharaDistricts of Western Sahara
Main article: Districts of Western SaharaMunicipalities of Western Sahara
Main article: Municipalities of Western Sahara- Capital of Western Sahara:
- Bir Lehlou (de facto - headquarters of the Polisario Front)
- El Aaiún (de jure - headquarters of Morrocan occupation)
- Cities of Western Sahara
Demography of Western Sahara
Main article: Demographics of Western SaharaGovernment and politics of Western Sahara
- Main article: Government of Western Sahara and Politics of Western Sahara
- Form of government:
- Capital of Western Sahara:
- Bir Lehlou (de facto - headquarters of the Polisario Front)
- El Aaiún (de jure - headquarters of Morrocan occupation)
- Elections in Western Sahara
- (specific elections)
- Political parties in Western Sahara
- Political scandals of Western Sahara
- Taxation in Western Sahara
Branches of the government of Western Sahara
Main article: Government of Western SaharaExecutive branch of the government of Western Sahara
- Head of state: President of Western Sahara, Mohamed Abdelaziz
- Head of government: Prime Minister of Western Sahara,
- Cabinet of Western Sahara
Legislative branch of the government of Western Sahara
- Parliament of Western Sahara (bicameral)
- Upper house: Senate of Western Sahara
- Lower house: House of Commons of Western Sahara
Judicial branch of the government of Western Sahara
Main article: Court system of Western Sahara- Supreme Court of Western Sahara
Foreign relations of Western Sahara
Main article: Foreign relations of Western Sahara- Diplomatic missions in Western Sahara
- Diplomatic missions of Western Sahara
International organization membership
Western Sahara is a member of:[1]
Law and order in Western Sahara
Main article: Law of Western Sahara- Capital punishment in Western Sahara
- Constitution of Western Sahara
- Crime in Western Sahara
- Human rights in Western Sahara
- LGBT rights in Western Sahara
- Freedom of religion in Western Sahara
- Law enforcement in Western Sahara
Military of Western Sahara
Main article: Military of Western Sahara- Command
- Commander-in-chief:
- Ministry of Defence of Western Sahara
- Commander-in-chief:
- Forces
- Army of Western Sahara
- Navy of Western Sahara
- Air Force of Western Sahara
- Special forces of Western Sahara
- Military history of Western Sahara
- Military ranks of Western Sahara
Local government in Western Sahara
Main article: Local government in Western SaharaHistory of Western Sahara
- Main article: History of Western Sahara, Timeline of the history of Western Sahara, and Current events of Western Sahara
- Economic history of Western Sahara
- Military history of Western Sahara
Culture of Western Sahara
Main article: Culture of Western Sahara- Architecture of Western Sahara
- Cuisine of Western Sahara
- Ethnic minorities in Western Sahara
- Festivals in Western Sahara
- Humor in Western Sahara
- Languages of Western Sahara
- Media in Western Sahara
- National symbols of Western Sahara
- Coat of arms of Western Sahara
- Flag of Western Sahara
- National anthem of Western Sahara
- People of Western Sahara
- Prostitution in Western Sahara
- Public holidays in Western Sahara
- Records of Western Sahara
- Religion in Western Sahara
- Buddhism in Western Sahara
- Christianity in Western Sahara
- Hinduism in Western Sahara
- Islam in Western Sahara
- Judaism in Western Sahara
- Sikhism in Western Sahara
- World Heritage Sites in Western Sahara: None
Art in Western Sahara
- Art in Western Sahara
- Cinema of Western Sahara
- Literature of Western Sahara
- Music of Western Sahara
- Television in Western Sahara
- Theatre in Western Sahara
Sports in Western Sahara
Main article: Sports in Western Sahara- Football in Western Sahara
- Western Sahara at the Olympics
Economy and infrastructure of Western Sahara
Main article: Economy of Western Sahara- Agriculture in Western Sahara
- Banking in Western Sahara
- National Bank of Western Sahara
- Communications in Western Sahara
- Internet in Western Sahara
- Companies of Western Sahara
- Currency of Western Sahara: Dirham
- ISO 4217: MAD
- Economic history of Western Sahara
- Energy in Western Sahara
- Energy policy of Western Sahara
- Oil industry in Western Sahara
- Health care in Western Sahara
- Mining in Western Sahara
- Western Sahara Stock Exchange
- Tourism in Western Sahara
- Transport in Western Sahara
- Airports in Western Sahara
- Rail transport in Western Sahara
- Roads in Western Sahara
- Water supply and sanitation in Western Sahara
Education in Western Sahara
Main article: Education in Western SaharaSee also
Main article: Western Sahara- Index of Western Sahara-related articles
- List of international rankings
- List of Western Sahara-related topics
- Outline of Africa
- Outline of geography
- Outline of Morocco
- Outline of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
References
- ^ a b "Western Sahara". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 3, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wi.html. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ Whitfield, Teresa. Friends Indeed?: The United Nations, Groups of Friends, and the Resolution of Conflict. 2007, page 191.
- ^ Baehr, Peter R. The United Nations at the End of the 1990s. 1999, page 129.
- ^ Arab League supports Morocco's Territorial Integrity, Arabic News, Morocco-Regional, Politics, January 8, 1999. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
- ^ Arab League Withdraws Inaccurate Moroccan maps, Arabic News, Regional-Morocco, Politics, December 17, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
- ^ The only glaciers in Africa are on Mt Kenya (in Kenya), on Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania), and in the Ruwenzori Mountains (which are located in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). See Proceedings of the Riederalp Workshop, September 1978; Actes de l'Atelier de Riederalp, septembre 1978): IAHS-AISH Publ. no. 126, 1980.
External links
Wikimedia Atlas of Western Sahara
- Overviews
- BBC - Country profile: Western Sahara
- CIA World Factbook - Western Sahara
- Western Sahara at the Open Directory Project
- News
- Special topics
- Western Sahara, Landmine Monitor Report 2003
- Jacob Mundy - "Seized of the Matter". The UN and the Western Sahara Dispute.PDF On the Baker Plan debate
- Western Sahara Project: archaeology and past environmental change in Western Sahara
- Maps
- http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/dpko/minurso.pdf Minurso Deployment as of October 2006, Map No. 3691 Rev. 53 United Nations, October 2006 (Colour), Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Cartographic Section
- Tourism
- Other
- Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental, a multilingual resource
- Moroccan Governmental site
- Western Sahara Online (pro-Polisario)--now a search site
- Western Sahara Online (pro-Morocco)
- Sahara-Update · News from and about Western Sahara
- Western Sahara - A Forgotten Country!PDF (99.8 KB)
Outlines General reference · Culture and the arts · Geography and places · Health and fitness · History and events · Mathematics and logic · Natural and physical sciences · People and self · Philosophy and thinking · Religion and belief systems · Society and social sciences · Technology and applied sciencesCategories:- Outlines of countries
- Western Sahara
- Western Sahara-related lists
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
