Western Sahara - Δυτική Σαχάρα

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THE Western Sahara (Arabic: الصحراء الغربية, al-Ṣaḥrā 'al-Gharbīyah, Spanish: Sahara Occidental) is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world, consisting mainly of desert. It is an area of ​​the northwest Africa bordering on Morocco north, the Algeria northeast, the Mauritania east and south and the Atlantic Ocean west. It has an area of ​​266,000 sq.km. and a population of 582,000 according to the United Nations average estimate for 2019. The largest city and administrative center of the region is El Ayoun, where the majority of the population lives.

At a glance

These territories were a Spanish colony until 1975, and have since been claimed by Morocco and the Polisario Front. The latter declared the independence of Western Sahara under the name Democratic Republic of the Sahara (Arabic: الجهورية العربية, Al-Jumhūrīyya al-`Arabīyya aṣ-Ṣaḥrāwīyya ad-Dīmuqrātīyya).

Appropriate visit period

Languages

The mother tongue of the majority of the locals is Arabic Hassaniya. Moroccan Arabic is also widely spoken and is the lingua franca on the streets and in the workplace due to the many Moroccans living in the country. French is spoken by many who have moved from Morocco and to some extent by locals active in the tourism industry. Spanish is spoken by a smaller number of people (mostly older people who learned Spanish during the Spanish occupation). Few people, especially young people, speak English. People are generally very patient with people with whom they do not know their language and are generally accustomed to communicating with meanings.

History

THE Western Sahara is the former Spanish colony of the Spanish Sahara. THE Spain left the area in 1975-1976. With the withdrawal of the Spaniards, the UN proposed the division of the region into three parts and the concession of territories to Morocco, the Algeria and Mauritania. On February 27, 1976, the Polisario Front declared the region an independent country called the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic. The three countries denied the right, resulting in the UN proposing the creation of an independent state. Democracy is now recognized by 49 countries and is a full member of the African Union. THE Hellas has not recognized her. In 1991, large deposits of phosphorus were discovered near the border with Morocco. The Morocco occupied most of the country (western part) and to this day owns and claims it. A ceasefire has been in place since 1991 under his auspices UN which is trying, unsuccessfully to date, to hold a referendum on the final status of the region.

Areas

Important cities

Controlled by Morocco

• El Ayoun (El Aaiún) (Laayoune)
• Al Mambas (Al Mahbass)
• Buzdur (Boujdour) (Cape Bojador)
• Daxla (Dakhla) (Villa Cisneros)
• El Marsa (El Marsa)
• Guelta Zemour (Guelta Zemmur)
• Auza (Haouza)
• Smara (Smara)
• Ahfenir (Akhfennir)

SADR controlled

• Brie Lelou (Bir Lehlou), the temporary capital
• Tifariti (Tifariti)
• Anguanit (Agwanit)
• Zug (Zoug)
• Μεχαριζε (Meharrize)
• Dougaz (Dougaj)

Controlled by Mauritania

• Rabbit (Lagouira)

Additional tourist destinations

How to get there

By air

The only direct flight to or from Europe is a seasonal flight from Paris's Orly Airport every Monday to Dahla (Transavia). There is of course the possibility of traveling with stops in Morocco and then landing in El Ayoun (Lagoon) or Dahla.

1 Dakhla Airport (IATA: VIL, ICAO: GMMH): (located at the north exit of the city Dahla) [last updated February 2020].

By train

There is no railway network in Western Sahara.

By road

The main highway in Western Sahara is the N1 National Highway which starts from Tangier (northern Morocco) and ends at Dahla (Western Sahara). Most of the road follows the coastline. There are several police checkpoints along the road. In addition to the standard checkpoints at the entrance and exit of the main settlements ( El Ayoun, Cape Bojador and Dahla), there are checkpoints on the bridge over the Oued Drâa (N28º 31.862 'W10º 56.669') just before Tan-Tan, also two kilometers before Sidi Akhfenir (at the first cheap fuel station: N28º 05.814 'W12º 02.824' ) and at the crossroads to Dahla (N23º 53.615 'W15º 40.585'). At this crossroads, if you just want to stop at the nearby gas station and do not want to drive until Dahla, explain it to the police who will probably let you pass faster. In fact, police checkpoints are usually friendly and things can move much faster if you have a photocopy with traveler details: first name, last name, date and place of birth, address, occupation, passport number and validity , point of departure and destination, date of entry into Morocco and Moroccan police number (a series of letters and numbers usually stamped on the last page of the passport upon entry into Morocco) as well as the vehicle: make, model and number plate traffic. Be aware that speed radars are multiple in Morocco and Western Sahara is no exception. A typical point for speed control is at its southern exit El Ayoun,

By boat

How to move

What to see

Entertainment

Transactions and purchases

The official currency of the Moroccan-controlled area is Moroccan Dirham, which is sometimes referred to as "Dh", "Dhs," DH "," dirham "or the plural form" dirham "or" Dhm "(ISO code: MAD). Each Dirham is subdivided into 100 cents. There are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1, 2, 5 and 10 Dirham coins, although coins less than 20c are less common. The banknotes are available in denominations of Dh 20, 50, 100 and 200.

The Democratic Republic of the Sahara (SADR) has issued its own currency, the PesetaSahrawi ("Pts.", ISO Code: EHP) .. Algerian dinars and Moorish ounces circulate alongside the Sahrawi peseta in the Sahrawi refugee camps and the SADR-controlled part of Western Sahara.

Cost

The cost of living in Western Sahara is generally lower than in Morocco due to Morocco's subsidy policy for years.

Local cuisine

Local drinks

Tourist infrastructure

Studies

Job opportunities

Stay safe

Health and precautions

Respect local customs

The local culture is purely Islamic but not very strict and formalistic. Western Saharan Islam, because it developed among the nomadic population, does not have mosques as its sole axis. The political and social demonstrations of Sahrawi nationalism are brutally suppressed by the Moroccan police and army. Flags of Morocco and the King of Morocco are hung in all public buildings and contacts of foreigners with local activists are systematically monitored.

Communications