Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic República Árabe Saharaui Democrática (Spanish) الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية (Arabic)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: الحرية والديمقراطية والوحدة "Libertad, Democracia, Unidad" (Spanish) "Liberté, Démocratie, Unité" (French) "Liberty, Democracy, Unity"
Anthem: Yā Banīy As-Saharā ¡Oh hijos del Sáhara! (Spanish) O fils du Sahara! (French) Oh Sons of the Sahara
Areas controlled by the SADR in dark green, claimed but uncontrolled areas in light green
Capital	Laayoune^a (claimed) Tifariti (de facto)
Largest	Laayoune (claimed)
Official languages	Arabic Spanish
Spoken languages	Hassaniya Arabic Spanish Berber French (within Moroccan-controlled areas)
Religion	Islam
Demonym(s)	Sahrawi Western Saharan Sahrawian
Government	One-party semi-presidential republic

• President	Brahim Ghali
• Prime Minister	Mohamed Wali Akeik

Legislature	Sahrawi National Council
Sovereignty disputed with Morocco

• Western Sahara relinquished by Spain	November 14, 1975
• Republic declared	February 27, 1976

Area
• Total	266,000 km² (103,000 sq mi) (83rd)
• Water (%)	Negligible
Population
• September 2010 estimate	100,000 or 502,585^c (182nd)
• Density	0.37 or 1.9/km² (1.0 or 4.9/sq mi) (236th)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Per capita	Unknown
Currency	de facto - Moroccan dirham (in claimed areas) de jure - Sahrawi peseta,Algerian dinar, Mauritanian ouguiya
Time zone	UTC
Internet TLD	None^e
Article 4 of the Sahrawi constitution. The SADR government is based in the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria. It controls the area east of the Moroccan Wall in Western Sahara which it labels the "Free Zone". Area of the whole territory of Western Sahara claimed by SADR. 500,000 is the estimate given for the population of Western Sahara based on comparative study of population growth since 1975, the date when the last census took place in Western Sahara. 100,000 is the estimated number of people living in the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria where the SADR is headquartered. 75% to 80% of the claimed territory is de facto under Moroccan administration. TLD of .eh is reserved for Western Sahara but not yet granted to any claimant.110%

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a country that claims to be in charge of the entire area called Western Sahara. It is a "partially recognized state." This means that some countries see it as an independent nation, while others do not.

The SADR was declared by a group called the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976. This happened in a place called Bir Lehlu in Western Sahara.

Currently, the SADR government controls only about 20% to 25% of the land it claims. They call these areas the Liberated Territories or the Free Zone. The country of Morocco controls most of the remaining land. Morocco calls these areas its Southern Provinces.

The SADR government believes the Moroccan-held territory is occupied. Morocco, on the other hand, sees the smaller SADR-held territory as a buffer zone. The United Nations still considers all of Western Sahara a dependency of Spain.

History of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Geography and Land Area
People and Culture
- Languages Spoken
- Population
Government and Leadership
- Leaders of the SADR
- Legislature
Economy and Currency
Images for kids
See also

History of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Western Sahara used to be a colony of Spain. This means Spain controlled it. On November 14, 1975, Spain gave up control of the area. Soon after, on February 27, 1976, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was officially declared.

Geography and Land Area

The SADR claims a total land area of about 266,000 square kilometers (102,703 square miles). This makes it the 83rd largest country in the world by area. However, as mentioned, it only controls a small part of this land. The land is mostly desert, with very little water.

People and Culture

The people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic are called Sahrawi. Most of them follow the Islam religion.

Languages Spoken

The official languages of the SADR are Arabic and Spanish. People also speak Hassaniya Arabic, which is a type of Arabic. Other languages include Berber and French. French is mostly spoken in the areas controlled by Morocco.

Population

It is hard to know the exact number of people living in the SADR. Estimates suggest there are around 100,000 people in the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria. This is where the SADR government is based. Other estimates for the whole Western Sahara area are around 500,000 people.

Government and Leadership

The SADR is a republic with a semi-presidential government. This means it has both a president and a prime minister. It is also a one-party state, which means one political party has most of the power.

Leaders of the SADR

The current President is Brahim Ghali.
The current Prime Minister is Mohamed Wali Akeik.

Legislature

The main law-making body in the SADR is called the Sahrawi National Council. This council helps make decisions for the government.

Economy and Currency

The economy of the SADR is not well known. In the areas claimed by the SADR but controlled by Morocco, the Moroccan dirham is used. In the areas controlled by the SADR, people might use the Sahrawi peseta, Algerian dinar, or Mauritanian ouguiya.

Images for kids

Sahrawi mostly colored baby blue (Maliki Sunni)
A mosque in Dakhla, a city under Moroccan control.
The Spanish actress Verónica Forqué at the Sahara Film Festival.
Commemoration of the 30th independence day in Tifariti, Liberated Territories, Western Sahara