Spain held Western Sahara until 1976. Now, Morocco claims and administers two thirds of Western Sahara. Western Sahara is in a state of flux and doesn't currently have sovereignty.
Western Sahara is the only country in Africa that is not truly independent. Since June 2007, the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front have met four times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara. The Polisario Front is a Sahrawi (citizens of Western Sahara) rebel movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco. The Polisario Front consistently denounces terrorism and attacks against civilians and describes its struggle as a "clean war of national liberation".
Official Name: Western Sahara
Former Names: Spanish Sahara
Capital City: none
Flag: none
Date of Independence: none
National Anthem: none
Population: 393,831
Size/Area: 266,000 sq km, about the size of Colorado
Land Locked: No
Coastline: On the Atlantic Ocean, 1,110 km
Bordering Countries: Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania
Administrative Divisions: none
Major Cities: El Aaiún (Laâyoune), Ad-Dakhla (Villa Cisneros), Smara (Semara), Cape Bojador (Cabo Boujdour)
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Religions: Muslim
Currency: Moroccan Dirham
Currency Code: MAD
Highest Point: An unnamed location 463 m
Lowest Point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
Bordering Bodies of Water: Atlantic Ocean
Bodies of Water: None
Climate: Hot, dry desert. Rain is rare. Cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew.
Major Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Major Agricultural Products: Fruits and vegetables, camels, sheep, goats, fish
Natural Resources: phosphates, iron ore
Time Zone: UTC 0
