Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Saharawi (or Sahrawi) Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is the long-form English translation of the government of Western Sahara (Arabic: ????????? ??????? ????????? ?????????, Spanish: República Árabe Saharaui Democrática). It is composed entirely of members of the Polisario, a political party/independence movement with its headquarters in Tindouf, Algeria. This body is recognized as a sovereign entity by nearly 80 states (although some of these has since withdrawn their recognitions), and is a full member of the African Union, but has no representation at the United Nations.

Related Topics:
Sahrawi - Arab - Democratic Republic - Western Sahara - Arabic - Spanish - Polisario - Tindouf - Algeria - Nearly 80 - States - African Union - United Nations

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The SADR currently administers a minority of the territory of Western Sahara (east and south of the berm) and claims the entire country; this is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. When Western Sahara was evacuated by Spain, both Morocco and Mauritania attempted to annex it; neither gained international recognition and war with the Polisario ensued. Its president is Mohammed Abdelaziz.

Related Topics:
Berm - The Kingdom of Morocco - Mauritania - Mohammed Abdelaziz

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The creation of the SADR was announced in Bir Lehlou in Western Sahara in 1976, as the Polisario saw the need for a new entity to fill the political void left by the departing Spainsh colonizers. Bir Lehlou is still in Polisario-held territory under the 1991 cease-fire and has remained the temporary capital of the exiled republic, until the Sahrawi capital of El-Aaiun, presently under Moroccan occupation, can be retaken. Day-to-day business is however conducted in the Tindouf camps.

Related Topics:
Bir Lehlou - 1976 - Spainsh - Colonizers - 1991 - El-Aaiun

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In the last UN-endorsed peace plan (created by Secretary-General Kofi Annan's personal envoy to the Western Sahara, James Baker III), the SADR would have been dismantled, at least temporarily, and replaced with the Western Sahara Authority (WSA), a governing body that would not claim sovereignty, but autonomy under Moroccan rule during a five-year transitional period until a referendum by Saharans on independence. This plan however appears politically dead, since Morocco refuses to participate in it.

Related Topics:
Secretary-General Kofi Annan - James Baker III - Western Sahara Authority - Sovereignty - Autonomy - Referendum - Saharans

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