Western Sahara - Photo: pxhere.com/

Western Sahara

Formerly a Spanish colony, Western Sahara is a disputed territory located on the Atlantic coast of northwest Africa, just south of Morocco. In 1975, Spain withdrew from Western Sahara, and Morocco has controlled most of the territory since 1976. However, the United Nations does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara.

About 25 percent of the area is controlled by a politico-military organization of the Sahrawi people called the “Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro” (POLISARIO). POLISARIO has proclaimed an independent state known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Moroccan Army and POLISARIO Front battled for control of the territory until a UN-monitored ceasefire was brokered in 1991, which ultimately collapsed in late 2020.

Western Sahara is 99.9 percent Muslim, making it one of the most religiously homogenous places in the world.

  • Region Information

    Population
    578,000

    Ethnicity
    Arab, Bedouin, Berber, Imragen, Regeibat, Sahrawi, Tjakant

    Religion (%)
    Islam (99.9)

    Sources: Joshua Project, VOM US

  • Pray for Western Sahara

    Pray that Christians in Western Sahara will find creative ways to share their faith, and that Gospel outreach efforts will bear abundant spiritual fruit. Ask our Heavenly Father to protect followers of Jesus from government detection as they gather for meaningful times of fellowship. Pray for a greater access to God’s Word in this restricted nation, so that many more Sahrawis will come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

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