What does Polisario mean in English?
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Polisario in American English (poulɪˈsɑːriˌou) noun. an independence movement opposing Moroccan control of the Western Sahara, a former Spanish territory that Morocco annexed in stages beginning in 1976.
What does the Polisario Front want?
Polisario Front, abbreviation of Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro, Spanish Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y Río de Oro, politico-military organization striving to end Moroccan control of the former Spanish territory of Western Sahara, in northwestern Africa, and …
Is the Western Sahara part of Morocco?
Western Sahara is a sparsely-populated area of mostly desert situated on the northwest coast of Africa. A former Spanish colony, it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then it has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Morocco and its indigenous Saharawi people, led by the Polisario Front.
Does Western Sahara have an army?
The SPLA’s armed units are considered to have a manpower of possibly 6000–7000 active soldiers today, but during the war years its strength appears to have been significantly higher: up to 20,000 men….
Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army | |
---|---|
Conscription | No |
Active personnel | 6,000–7,000 |
Reserve personnel | 13,000–14,000 |
Industry |
Who supports Polisario?
Algeria
The Polisario Front, mainly backed by Algeria, is described by itself and its supporters as a national liberation movement that opposes Moroccan control of Western Sahara, whilst it is considered by Morocco and supporters of Morocco’s claims over the Western Sahara to be a separatist organization.
What is Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara?
Morocco has claimed authority over Western Sahara since 1975, but the United Nations (UN) does not recognize Moroccan control, calling Western Sahara a “non-self-governing territory.” Morocco controls the most populous area along the Atlantic coastline, more than three-quarters of the territory.
Why is Sahara a Moroccan?
After an agreement among the European colonial powers at the Berlin Conference in 1884 on the division of spheres of influence in Africa, Spain seized control of Western Sahara and established it as a Spanish colony. After 1939 and the outbreak of World War II, this area was administered by Spanish Morocco.
Who Recognises SADR?
SADR has, at some point in time, been recognised by 43.5% of United Nations (UN) member states, 38 out of the other 54 (70%) African Union (AU) member states, 18 out of 57 (32%) Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, and 5 out of 22 (23%) Arab League (AL) member states.