Western Sahara

From Missiopedia

• Return to Countries
• Back to North Africa

Official name: Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Area: Government: Official languages: Monetary unit: Cities:

DEMOGRAPHY Population: Population density: ECONOMY GDP (PPP): per person: </small>

LIFE & LIBERTY HDI

• Occupied by Morocco, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) dispute control of the territory. Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony. Western Sahara has been a disputed territory since Spain withdrew in 1975. Morocco controls 80% of the land, while the remaining 20% is controlled by the Polisario, an independence movement established in 1973, and the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR. Polisario resisted in a guerrilla war that ended in 1991 with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire, leaving several thousands dead on both sides. A U.N.-mandated vote on independence foundered over disagreements about who should vote. Polisario still wants a referendum on Western Sahara’s future. Morocco rules that out and proposes limited autonomy. Morocco fears losing Western Sahara would undermine the authority of King Mohamed VI. Presently, camps run by the Cuban-backed Polisario Front exist in southern Algeria, where thousands of indigenous Sahrawi people are sequestered and treated inhumanely. Public beatings are common and young children are taken from their families and sent to Cuba for re-education.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Location 1.2 Region 1.3 Climate 1.4 Natural Resources 2 Demographics 2.1 Peoples 2.2 Provinces 3 Life 4 Economy 5 Government 6 Religion 6.1 Islam 6.2 Buddhism 6.3 Christianity 6.3.1 History 6.3.2 Churches 6.3.3 Church and State Relations 6.3.4 Challenges for Christians: 6.3.5 Mission 6.3.6 Broadcasting 6.3.7 Councils and Networks 7 Future Trends 8 For More Reading

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

• Western Sahara is a territory of northwestern Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands.

[edit] Region

North Africa

[edit] Climate

[edit] Natural Resources

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Peoples

Sahrawi

[edit] Provinces

• The Provinces of Western Sahara

[edit] Life

• There is an urgent need for healing and restoration of the families of the Sahrawi people as these people have been tortured, kidnapped and separated from their families in a humanitarian crisis that has lasted for more than 30 years,

[edit] Economy

[edit] Government

[edit] Religion

• Western Sahara’s population of around 400,000 are overwhelmingly followers of Sunni Muslim along with some animistic practices.

[edit] Islam

[edit] Buddhism

[edit] Christianity

[edit] History

[edit] Churches

[edit] Church and State Relations

[edit] Challenges for Christians:

Western Sahara has a few isolated Christian believers. The Polisario has formed an effective administration over the territory they control. There are no known cases of persecution of Christians. But there is usually intense social pressure from family members. Morocco is trying to develop the area under its control. Although the constitution grants freedom of religion, restrictions are applied. All religious groups are monitored to ensure that adherents do not stray into politics.

[edit] Mission

[edit] Broadcasting

[edit] Councils and Networks

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For More Reading

• Wikipedia
• Joshua Project
• GRN