Political Status of Western Sahara

Political Status Of Western Sahara

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Constitution
  • Constitution
    • Sahrawi nationality law
Executive
  • President
    • Mohamed Abdelaziz
  • Prime Minister
    • Abdelkader Taleb Omar
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  • Sahrawi National Council
    • Speaker: Kathri Aduh
Judiciary
  • Judicial system
    • Supreme Court
    • Appeal Courts
Divisions
  • Liberated Territories
    • Municipalities
  • Sahrawi refugee camps
Elections
  • Elections
    • Parliamentary: 2008
Political parties
  • Polisario Front
Foreign policy
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Disputes
  • Political status of Western Sahara
  • Western Sahara conflict
  • Other countries
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Western Sahara, formerly the Spanish colony of Spanish Sahara, is a disputed territory claimed by both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front. Its legal status remains, according to the United Nations (UN), as a non-decolonized territory included in the United Nations List of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Since the Madrid Accords of 1975, part of Western Sahara have been administered by Morocco as the Southern Provinces. Another section, the Liberated Territories, is administered by the Polisario Front as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Mauritania administers temporally the western half of Ras Nouadhibou peninsula. A UN-monitored cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991.

In order to resolve the sovereignty issue, the UN has attempted to hold a referendum through the mission United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and is holding direct talks between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front. The UN recognizes neither Moroccan nor SADR sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Read more about Political Status Of Western Sahara:  State Recognition and Diplomatic Relations With The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Positions On Western Sahara Conflict

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