Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When it was abandoned by Spain in 1975, Morocco and Mauritania both raised claims
to the desert region, but Mauritania soon bailed out. In November 1975 King Hassan II or-
chestrated the Green March - 350,000 Moroccans marched south to stake Morocco's his-
torical claim to the Western Sahara.
Over the following years, Rabat poured in 100,000 troops to stamp out resistance, and
gained the upper hand. The UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991, but a promised referendum,
in which the indigenous Saharawis could choose between independence and integration
with Morocco, has yet to materialise.
Ever since, Morocco has strengthened its hold on the territory, pouring money into in-
frastructure projects, particularly offshore oil exploration, and attracting Moroccans from
the north to live here tax-free. Until late 2010, the troubled area seemed to be lying
dormant, with the dispute largely forgotten by the world beyond this remote region.
However, on 8 November 2010, Moroccan security forces stormed the Gadaym Izik camp
near Laâyoune, in an attempt to break up the 15,000-strong protest camp. Both sides in-
curred fatalities in the ensuing clashes, which turned into riots and engulfed the city, with
700-plus Saharawi injuries, and scenes of fire and destruction in the international media.
Laâyoune and Dakhla have both seen several clashes and riots since then, and Africa's
longest-running territorial dispute continues.
For the most up-to-date information on the Western Sahara, or the Saharawi Arab
Democratic Republic (as the separatist government calls the occupied territory), check
Climate
Beyond the foothills of the Anti Atlas lies a parched hinterland starved of moisture. Here
temperatures can exceed 45°C during the day and plunge to 0°C at night, while an annual
rainfall of less than 125mm gives a suffocating aridity hovering between 5% and 30% -
dry enough to mummify corpses. The desert wind, known locally as the
chergui, irifi
or
sirocco,
adds to the harsh conditions. From March to April, sandstorms also plague the
desert, making driving inadvisable.
It is important to carry a good supply of water. In winter it is also essential to carry a
warm sleeping bag and some warm clothing as desert nights can be bitterly cold.
Language
