Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara

Government type legal status of territory and issue 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),led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ and recognized by 54 nations; 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 6 September 1991

Capital none

Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco)

Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed

Executive branch none

Political pressure groups and leaders none

International organization participation none

Diplomatic representation in the US none

Diplomatic representation from the US none

NOTE: The information regarding Western Sahara on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Western Sahara Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Western Sahara Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.