Southern Provinces

This article is about Morocco's administration of Western Sahara. For other territories, seeSouthern Province.

Current map of the territories controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Southern Provinces of Morocco

TheSouthern ProvincesorMoroccan Saharaare the terms used by theMoroccan governmentto refer to theoccupied territoryofWestern Sahara.These designations encompass the entirety of Western Sahara, which spans three of Morocco's12 top-level administrative regions.The term "Southern Provinces" is frequently used on Moroccanstate television(e.g. weather forecasts, news maps, and official statements).

Background

Western Saharawas formerly a Spanish colony known as theSpanish Sahara.In the 1970s,Spainfaced mounting pressure fromMoroccoto relinquish the territory, culminating in theGreen March,a large-scale demonstration organized by theMoroccan governmenton November 6, 1975. The Green March was orchestrated to compel Spain to transfer Western Sahara to Morocco. TheMadrid Accords,ratified just 12 days after the Green March, stipulated that Spain would exit Western Sahara by February 28, 1976, at the latest. Subsequently, Morocco andMauritaniasigned theWestern Sahara partition agreementon April 14, 1976. This agreement led to Morocco assuming control overSaguia el-Hamra,whileMauritaniatook charge ofRío de Oro,renaming it asTiris al-Gharbiyya.

A locally basedSahrawinationalliberation movement,known as thePolisario Front,initiated aguerrilla waron February 27, 1976, with significant financial and logistical support fromAlgeriaandLibya.Their goal was to achieve independence for the territory under the banner of the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic"(SADR).

After years of conflict in Western Sahara, Mauritania signed a peace agreement with the Polisario Front in 1979, formally renouncing its claim to the southern part of the territory. With Mauritania's withdrawal, Morocco moved quickly to annex the area previously held by Mauritania, effectively extending its occupation over part of the region known as Río de Oro.

Since aUnited Nations-brokered ceasefire agreement in 1991, approximately two-thirds of the territory has been occupied by Morocco, encompassing most of the coastline. This area is separated from the eastern third controlled by the Polisario Front, referred to by them as theFree Zone,by theMoroccan Western Sahara Wallor "the Berm".

The ceasefire line corresponds to the route of the Berm, with both sides asserting sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has received recognition from 84 nations and is a full member of theAfrican Union,though not of the UN. The Arab League implicitly recognizes Moroccan territorial integrity, albeit with significant reservations from Algeria and Syria.

Overview

The three regions of Morocco within the claimed territory of Western Sahara (prior to 2015). These regions were further divided into ten provinces.

The Moroccan government exercises control over approximately two-thirds of Western Sahara (the portion west of theBerm), while the remaining part constitutes the Polisario Front-controlledSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Morocco treats the two-thirds of Western Sahara under its control as integral Moroccan territory. The government implements various economic and social development initiatives, incorporating these "Southern Provinces" into the national budget for government funding, national sports competitions, educational programs, and national parliamentary elections. The total population of Western Sahara is around 576,000.Coastal areas are utilized for fishing, and land areas are exploited for phosphate mining by both government and private entities.

In terms of administration, Morocco divided its controlled territory into administrative units (wilayas). Flags and coats of arms were established for the three wilayas ofBoujdour,Smara,andLaayoune.

In 1983, further changes occurred, resulting in the establishment of four wilayas, with the addition ofDakhla.In 1990,Wadi al-Dhahab(Río de Oro) was also incorporated.

As of 2022, the Southern Provinces are organized into three regions:Guelmim-Oued Nounin the north,Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamrain the center, andDakhla-Oued Ed-Dahabin the south. These regions are further subdivided into ten provinces. The regions ofGuelmim-Oued NounandLaâyoune-Sakia El Hamraencompass parts of the Western Saharan territory as well as undisputed Moroccan territory to the north.

Morocco has designated a separate satellite TV channel for audiences in the Southern Provinces, known asLaayoune TV.

Moroccan settlers

Main article:Moroccan settlers

Following the 1975Green March,the Moroccan state initiatedsettlement programsthat encouraged numerous Moroccans to relocate to the Moroccan-administered portion of Western Sahara (accounting for approx. 70% of thedisputed territory).

By 2015, it was estimated that Moroccan settlers constituted at least two-thirds of the500,000 inhabitants.In addition to offering aright of returnfor theSahrawi refugees,the Sahrawigovernment in exileexpressed a willingness to grantSahrawi citizenship to Moroccan settlers and their descendantsin a prospective independent state.