 | |
| Western Sahara | |
| province | |
|---|---|
| Western Sahara has no parent region. | |
| Residents | 582.000 (2019) |
| height | 237 m |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | |
Western Sahara is on the west coast North Africa. The political status of the region has not yet been clarified. In fact, two-thirds of the land becomes from the coast Morocco managed. In the desert areas behind the "Wall" erected by Morocco, the diplomatically recognized by many states rules Polisario with the support of Algerian Government.
Regions
The Polisario-controlled areas are currently not open to tourists. The Algerian side does not give permission for Tindūf (تندوف) and the wall is controlled by the Moroccans.[1]
Cities
- El Aaiún (Laâyoune) - capital and largest city in the country
- Dakhla
- La Gouira, the southern border town
background
After the colony was surrendered by Spain in 1975, a division was planned: the north should join Morocco, the south on Mauritania be connected. The left-wing liberation front Polisario fought against it for an independence of the Western Sahara. Mauritania finally renounced its part, whereupon Morocco partially occupied it as well.
Today over two thirds of the area is occupied by Morocco. All major cities in the country belong to this part. The remaining third, in the extremely sparsely populated east and south-east, is made up of the Polisario controlled, it has its own state here called Sahara Arab Democratic Republic called out. A referendum on the future of the Western Sahara, which the UN has long called for, has been postponed again and again and has since been completely abandoned by Morocco.
Between the two zones is the more than 2500 kilometers long "Moroccan Wall" (English Berm), a system created by the Moroccan military consisting of approximately three meter high sand walls, walls, piled rubble, barbed wire and minefields that are intended to prevent Polisario fighters from entering the Moroccan-controlled zone. Life is in danger here! In any case, the Moroccan-occupied part is likely to be more interesting from a tourist point of view.
getting there
Overland there are currently only connections from Morocco and an open border crossing from Mauritania near La Gouira, to the north Nouadhibou. The directions given under “By bike” along the coastal road through the Western Sahara are also useful for drivers.
There are no border formalities at the border with Morocco, as the territory is claimed by Morocco. When crossing the border with Mauritania, you pass a strip a few kilometers wide that is not under Moroccan control. However, this area looks more like no man's land with many broken cars, and there is no administrative presence there except for those of Morocco and Mauritania (2019).
By plane
There are two airports with scheduled connections: El Aaiun Hassan I Airport
(IATA: EUN) in the northwest and Dakhla airport(IATA: VIL) further south. Both are from several Moroccan airports as well Gran Canaria reachable from. Airlines represented are Royal Air Maroc (EUN, VIL) and BinterCanarias (EUN only).
By bus
Buses run regularly from Morocco, among other things Agadir and Casablanca, after El Aaiún. Since spring 2018 there have also been buses from Ad-Dakhla south to the Mauritanian border.
In the street
The distance from Agadir to El Aaiún. The distance Casablanca–El Aaiún (over 1000 km) is theoretically possible on a long day, but an overnight stay is recommended.
Route description too Crossing Western Sahara. See also the Description of the border crossing to Mauritania, which is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Petrol, the price of which was state-controlled until 2015, is almost 30 percent cheaper in Western Sahara than in Morocco. In August 2018, a liter in Moroccan cities cost around Dh 10.60 (9% since 2016), diesel Dh 9.30 (40% since 2016), just beyond the district border east of Tarfaya Less. The exception is that 1 "Last gas station before Mauritania"(24 ° 40 ′ 0 ″ N.14 ° 52 ′ 19 ″ W.) a good 30 km from the border (ط و 1 ، واد لكراع), here, as at the border itself, more is required. Self-drivers should still fill the reserve canisters here in any case, as there was a shortage of petrol and higher prices in the neighboring country to the south. Otherwise it makes sense to have your supplies in 1 Bir Gandouz(22 ° 3 '9 "N.16 ° 45 ′ 2 ″ W.) (بئر كندوز) fill in where that Motel Barbas offers decent accommodation.
By boat
The ferry from the Canary Islands has long been discontinued.
mobility
The Moroccan bus network allows you to travel to Dakhla without any problems.
The national roads are in good condition, which does not necessarily apply to local vehicles. Desert slopes should only be used in daylight and preferably not alone. A navigation device as well as an adequate supply of water, food, fuel and spare parts are essential for survival. A competent guide doesn't do any harm on desert tours either.
Police checks passengers on buses are more frequent in Western Sahara than in Morocco. While in Morocco mainly locals are checked, the papers of foreign travelers are specifically checked during these checks.
By bicycle
A Crossing Western Sahara is possible in principle.
language
Is the official language Arabic, whereby the Hassānīya dialect is widespread (which is also spoken in Mauritania and northern Mali). Since there are many immigrants from Morocco as a result of the occupation, the Moroccan dialect is also often used. Some business people can speak some French. As a result of the colonial era, you can sometimes still see signs with Spanish inscriptions and some older Sahrawis can speak some Spanish. Without knowledge of Arabic, however, you will often only be able to communicate with your hands and feet.
shop
In the Moroccan occupied part, the Moroccan dirham paid. The currency of the eastern part controlled by the Polisario is the Saharawi Peseta, which is tied to the euro at a rate of 1: 166.39. In the south of the territory there is, to a small extent, the Mauritanian one Ouguiya in circulation.
security
 | The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has a special one about this country Travel and safety advice released (Web link). We strongly advise against driving in and through the controversial area of Western Sahara. Consular support from the German embassy in Rabat is not possible there for legal reasons. Current safety information. Date of the last notification: 05.07.2018. |
There are many landmines, especially on the border between the Moroccan occupied area and the area held by the Polisario, the Moroccan Wall. The border region with Mauritania is no longer mined.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry warns against leaving the main El Aaiún – Dakhla – Mauritanian border route. The border can only be crossed at the Guerguarat / Nouadhibou border crossing (border post PK 55).
health
Risk of heat stroke.
Practical advice
The Moroccan-administered part of the country is now so pacified that you can travel here normally, despite the relevant warnings from various foreign ministries.
Consular support from the German embassy in Rabat is not possible for travelers in the Western Sahara for legal reasons. Consular support from the Austrian embassy in Rabat is difficult for practical reasons in the Western Sahara.
literature
- Cara, Jean-Yves de; Saint-Prot, Charles; Boutin, Christophe; Mémento de la question du Sahara marocain: Handbook on the question of Moroccan Sahara = Memorándum de la cuestión del Sáhara marroquí = Nubḏa ʿan qaḍīyat aṣ-Ṣaḥrāʾ al-maġribīya; Paris 2017 (Les Éditions du Cerf); ISBN 9782204125765 [4 languages]
- Mercer, John; Spanish Sahara; 1976 [still the best representation of the region's geography]
- Vieuchange, Michel; Smara: among the unconquered tribes of southern Morocco and the Rio de Oro; Erlenbach-Zurich 1937; [Orig. French]
Web links
- Freedom for the Western Sahara e.V. in Bremen
- Austro-Saharan Society
- Sahara Libre (sp., neglected since 2014)
- Western Sahara Resource Watch (multilingual)
