Western Sahara/Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Western Sahara
former:
Spanish Sahara
Data code:
WI
Government type:
legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented September 6, 1991
Capital:
none
Administrative divisions:
none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Suffrage:
none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed
Executive branch:
none
International organization participation:
none
- See also : Western Sahara
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