Coat of arms of Western Sahara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Armiger | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
| Adopted | 1976 |
| Crest | Star and crescent Gules |
| Supporters | Two olive branches Or |
| Motto | Arabic: حرية ديمقراطية وحدة "Liberty, Democracy, Unity" |
| Other elements | Two crossed rifles with Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic flags hanging from each |
The Coat of arms of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is an important symbol. It was created by the Polisario Front, a group working for the independence of Western Sahara. The Polisario Front announced the creation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on February 27, 1976. Both the flag and the coat of arms became official symbols of this new state.
Western Sahara is a territory that is currently disputed. This means different groups claim it:
- Morocco controls and manages about 80% of the land. In this area, the coats of arms of Moroccan regions are used.
- The Polisario Front and the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) want the territory to be independent. They use the Coat of arms of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Contents
What Does the Sahrawi Coat of Arms Look Like?
This special symbol shows two rifles crossed over each other. The SADR flag hangs from each rifle. Above the rifles, you can see a red crescent moon and a star. These are common symbols in Islam and Arab culture.
Around the guns and the crescent are two olive branches, one on each side. Olive branches often stand for peace. At the very bottom, there is a red banner. On this banner, the Polisario motto is written in Arabic: "حرية ديمقراطية وحدة". This means "Liberty, democracy, unity" in English. Before June 1991, the coat of arms also had a hammer between the rifles, but this was later removed.
A Brief History of the Sahrawi Coat of Arms
In the late 1800s, Western Sahara became a colony of Spain. This means Spain took control of the land. Later, in 1975, Spain decided to leave the territory. They gave control to Morocco and Mauritania. This move was not recognized by the United Nations (UN).
The Polisario Front did not agree with this decision. They declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in a place called Bir Lehlou. They said the SADR was the true government for an independent Western Sahara.
In 1979, Mauritania signed a peace agreement with the Polisario Front. After this, Morocco took control of the part of the territory that Mauritania had held. In 1991, the UN helped arrange a ceasefire between the two sides. However, the question of who truly owns the territory is still being discussed in peace talks.
Former Coat of Arms of Spanish Sahara
The Coat of arms of Laâyoune (also known as El Aaiún) was used when Western Sahara was a Spanish colony. This coat of arms was officially approved by the Spanish Government in 1955. It featured a green background with a wavy silver and blue band, representing water. At the top, there was a palm tree, and at the bottom, a camel's head. The border of the shield was red, with four gold castles and four silver lions.
See also
In Spanish: Escudo de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática para niños
