Laaroussien

The Laaroussien (also spelled Larosien, Laârousienne, Aarousiyine, al-Arosien, etc) is a Sahrawi tribe traditionally migrating within the region that is today the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Their migratory routes stretched from El Aaiún down towards Dakhla, parallel to the coast of the territory. Like all Sahrawis, they are Sunni Muslims of the Maliki madhhab.

They are of Arab-Berber (Maaqil and Sanhadja, respectively) origins, and held status as a Chorfa tribe, i.e. claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Their tribal ancestor, a certain Hamet El Arosi (or Laaroussi), was claimed to have performed miracles: according to tribal lore, he was lifted to safety by angels, after having once been captured - for unclear reasons - by the Sultan of Morocco.

Laaroussien Sahrawis are present both in the Tindouf refugee camps of Algeria, headquarters of the nationalist and independence-seeking Polisario Front, and in their traditional home areas of Western Sahara; these are situated west of the Moroccan Wall, and thus under Moroccan rule. (See History of Western Sahara for a background to the dispute.) Few members of the Laaroussien live in neighbouring Mauritania; they are not a transfrontier tribe, traditionally, although, as an exception to the rule, a former President of Mauritania (1979-84), Col. Mohamed Khouna Ould Heidallah, is Laaroussien - he is born in or near the border region of Ras Nouadhibou, either in Mauritania or what was then Spanish Sahara.