Politics of Western Sahara (original) (raw)

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