Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a disputed territory located in North Africa, bordered by Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. It was a former Spanish colony that gained autonomy in 1975 but has since been at the center of a conflict between Morocco, which claims the region, and the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front, who seek independence. The situation remains unresolved, with a United Nations-led effort for a referendum on self-determination. The region is rich in phosphate and has a sparse population, leading to ongoing political, humanitarian, and legal debates over its status and governance.