Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a government in exile, meaning it does not effectively control its claimed territory, the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. The Polisario front, the military wing that controls the SADR, currently claims to administer the area that it calls the Free Zone, the eastern strip of Western Sahara. It conducts diplomatic relations with a number of other states from its headquarters at refugee camps at Tindouf in Algeria.

Recognition

The SADR is recognized by 49 states. Several states that do not recognize the Sahrawi Republic, however, recognize the Polisario movement as a legitimate representative of the population of the Western Sahara, but not its government-in-exile as a state.

On the other hand, Moroccan sovereignty over the territory is explicitly supported by the Arab League [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/990108/1999010849.html] , [http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/981217/1998121758.html] and by 25 states. For a list of these governments, see Foreign relations of Morocco.

Besides Mexico and South Africa, India was the only major power to have ever recognized SADR when it allowed the Sahrawi Republic to open a consulate in New Delhi in 1985. However, India withdrew its recognition in 2000.

As with any fluid political situation, diplomatic recognitions of either party's rights are subject to frequent and sometimes unannounced change.

States recognizing the SADR

The following is a list of governments of the world that have formally recognized Western Sahara as a sovereign nation, with the exiled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as its legitimate government.

After recognizing an independent Western Sahara, some states have since retracted their recognitions. Others have chosen a milder option, to "freeze" recognition pending the outcome of the referendum on self-determination or for other reasons.

This list is based on several sources, and it may be incomplete. Currently, it contains 83 countries, and of these
* 49 recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
* 13 of these 49 are home to Sahrawi embassies.
* 13 have "frozen" relations.
* 22 have cancelled relations.

* "See also tables at [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Western_Sahara.html this] page, [http://www.lasonet.com/rasdpaises.htm this] , and [http://www.arso.org/03-2.htm that] .""Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the icon."

References

;General
*cite web
title = States recognizing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
language = Arabic
publisher = Official Website of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
url = http://www.rasd-state.ws/reconocimientos_rasd.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-21;Specific

See also

* Legal status of Western Sahara