Western Sahara

Western Sahara also Spanish Sahara

A region of northwest Africa on the Atlantic coast. Sparsely settled primarily by Berbers, the region was first visited by Portuguese navigators in 1434. Spain claimed it as a protectorate in 1884, establishing the province of Spanish Sahara in 1958, but transferred the territory to Morocco and Mauritania in 1976. Mauritania renounced all claims in 1979, with Morocco occupying its portion, but guerrilla resistance from the nationalist Polisario Front forced the Moroccans in 1991 to agree to a UN-monitored referendum on the region's status.

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Western Sahara

n

(Placename) a disputed region of NW Africa, on the Atlantic: mainly desert; rich phosphate deposits; a Spanish overseas province from 1958 to 1975; partitioned in 1976 between Morocco and Mauritania who faced growing resistance from the Polisario Front, an organization aiming for the independence of the region as the Democratic Saharan Arab Republic. Mauritania renounced its claim in 1979 and it was taken over by Morocco. Polisario agreed to a UN-brokered cease-fire in 1991 but attempts to settle the status of the region have failed. Pop.: 288 000 (1998 est.). Area: 266 000 sq. km (102 680 sq. miles) Former name (until 1975) Spanish Sahara

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Western Sahara - an area in northwestern Africa with rich phosphate deposits; under Moroccan control since 1992 Spanish Sahara Al-Magrib, Kingdom of Morocco, Maroc, Marruecos, Morocco - a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956