25°N 13°W / 25°N 13°W / 25; -13
24-497: The Southern Provinces or Moroccan Sahara are the terms used by the Moroccan government to refer to the occupied territory of Western Sahara . These designations encompass the entirety of Western Sahara, which spans three of Morocco's 12 top-level administrative regions . The term "Southern Provinces" is frequently used on Moroccan state television (e.g. weather forecasts, news maps, and official statements). Western Sahara
48-422: A prospective independent state. Politics of Morocco Politics of Morocco take place in a framework of an official parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy , whereby the prime minister of Morocco is the head of government , and of a multi-party system . Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament,
72-575: Is one of the twelve regions of Morocco . Before September 2015 it was known as Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira ( Arabic : وادي الذهب لكويرة ). It is situated in the disputed territory of Western Sahara , considered by Morocco to be the southern part of the country. The Polisario Front and other independence -seeking Sahrawis consider this to be a part of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic . The United Nations and most countries do not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over
96-661: Is separated from the eastern third controlled by the Polisario Front, referred to by them as the Free Zone , by the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall or "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
120-705: The African Union , though not of the UN. The Arab League implicitly recognizes Moroccan territorial integrity, albeit with significant reservations from Algeria and Syria. The Moroccan government exercises control over approximately two-thirds of Western Sahara (the portion west of the Berm ), while the remaining part constitutes the Polisario Front-controlled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic . Morocco treats
144-483: The Assembly of Representatives of Morocco and the Assembly of Councillors . The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary . On June 17, 2011, King Mohammed VI announced a series of reforms that would transform Morocco into a constitutional monarchy . The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Morocco a " hybrid regime " in 2022. The constitution grants
168-554: The Polisario Front , initiated a guerrilla war on February 27, 1976, with significant financial and logistical support from Algeria and Libya . 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
192-457: The September 2021 general election . His cabinet was sworn in on 7 October. The House of Representatives : The House of Representatives consisted of 395 members elected by direct suffrage through a list system vote as follows: The House of Councilors : The House of Councilors consists of 120 members elected according to the following regulations and procedures: On 26 November 2011,
216-573: The 395 seats in the House of Representatives , a gain of 18 seats compared to the 2011 elections . Abdelillah Benkirane was reappointed Prime Minister by the King on 10 October. The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 102 seats, and the rest of the seats were split among smaller parties. In the September 2021 general election, the moderate Islamist PJD suffered an electoral wipeout , with
240-556: The Green March, stipulated that Spain would exit Western Sahara by February 28, 1976, at the latest. Subsequently, Morocco and Mauritania signed the Western Sahara partition agreement on April 14, 1976. This agreement led to Morocco assuming control over Saguia el-Hamra , while Mauritania took charge of Río de Oro , renaming it as Tiris al-Gharbiyya . A locally based Sahrawi national liberation movement , known as
264-1648: The King. Morocco is divided also into 13 prefectures and 62 provinces. Prefectures: Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane , Casablanca , Fès , Inezgane-Aït Melloul , Marrakesh , Meknès , Mohammedia , Oujda-Angad , Rabat , Safi , Salé , Skhirate-Témara and Tangier-Assilah . Provinces: Al Haouz , Al Hoceïma , Aousserd , Assa-Zag , Azilal , Benslimane , Béni-Mellal , Berkane , Berrechid , Boujdour , Boulemane , Chefchaouen , Chichaoua , Chtouka Aït Baha , Driouch , El Hajeb , El Jadida , El Kelâa des Sraghna , Errachidia , Es Semara , Essaouira , Fahs-Anjra , Figuig , Fquih Ben Salah , Guelmim , Guercif , Ifrane , Jerada , Kénitra , Khémisset , Khénifra , Khouribga , Laâyoune , Larache , Médiouna , Midelt , Moulay Yacoub , Nador , Nouaceur , Ouarzazate , Oued Ed-Dahab , Ouezzane , Rehamna , Safi , Sefrou , Settat , Sidi Bennour , Sidi Ifni , Sidi Kacem , Sidi Slimane , Tan-Tan , Taounate , Taourirt , Tarfaya , Taroudannt , Tata , Taza , Tétouan , Tinghir , Tiznit , Youssoufia and Zagora . ABEDA , ACCT (associate), AfDB , AFESD , AL , AMF , AMU , EBRD , ECA , FAO , G-77 , IAEA , IBRD , ICAO , ICCt , ICFTU , ICRM , IDA , IDB , IFAD , IFC , IFRCS , IHO (pending member), ILO , IMF , IMO , Intelsat , Interpol , IOC , IOM , ISO , ITF , ITU , NAM , OAS (observer), OIC , OPCW , OSCE (partner), UN , UNCTAD , UNESCO , UNHCR , UNIDO , UPU , WCO , WHO , WIPO , WMO , WToO , WTrO . Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab ( Arabic : الداخلة - وادي الذهب , romanized : ad-dāḵla - wādī ḏ-ḏahab )
SECTION 10
#1732766047477288-612: The Moroccan-administered portion of Western Sahara (accounting for approx. 70% of the disputed territory ). By 2015, it was estimated that Moroccan settlers constituted at least two-thirds of the 500,000 inhabitants . In addition to offering a right of return for the Sahrawi refugees , the Sahrawi government in exile expressed a willingness to grant Sahrawi citizenship to Moroccan settlers and their descendants in
312-649: The area. The region covers an area of 50,880 km and had a population of 142,955 according to the 2014 census . The capital is the coastal city of Dakhla , formerly known as Villa Cisneros. The region comprises two provinces: On 15 December 2023, the Polisario Front carried out an operation in the Aousserd Province of the region, dropping four explosive projectiles 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from residential areas but did not leave any casualties. Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab consists of two provinces: This Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab location article
336-466: The first opportunity for a coalition of socialist, left-of-centre, and nationalist parties to be included in the government until October 2002. It was also the first time in the modern political history of the Arab world that the opposition assumed power following an election. The current government is headed by Aziz Akhannouch , who was appointed by King Mohammed VI after his party won a plurality of seats in
360-468: The initial results of the parliamentary elections were released. The moderate Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), was projected to win the largest number of seats. However, the electoral rules were structured such that no political party could win more than 20 percent of the seats in the parliament. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) remained the largest party, winning 125 of
384-582: The king extensive powers; he is both the secular political leader and the " Commander of the Faithful " as a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. He presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the prime minister following legislative elections, and on recommendations from the latter, appoints the members of the government. While the constitution theoretically allows the king to terminate
408-1014: The liberal National Rally of Independents becoming the largest party in Parliament. Its leader, Aziz Akhannouch , subsequently formed a coalition government with the Authenticity and Modernity Party and Istiqlal Party . The highest court in the judicial structure is the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the King. The Youssoufi government continued to implement a reform program to develop greater judicial independence and impartiality. Since 2015 Morocco officially administers 12 regions: Béni Mellal-Khénifra , Casablanca-Settat , Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab , Drâa-Tafilalet , Fès-Meknès , Guelmim-Oued Noun , Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra , Marrakech-Safi , Oriental , Rabat-Salé-Kénitra , Souss-Massa and Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima . The regions are administered by Walis and governors appointed by
432-607: The next 38 years until he died in 1999. His son, the King Mohammed VI , assumed the throne in July 1999. Following the March 1998 elections, a coalition government headed by opposition socialist Abderrahmane Youssoufi and composed largely of ministers drawn from opposition parties, was formed. Prime Minister Youssoufi's government is the first government drawn primarily from opposition parties in decades, and also represents
456-686: The south. These regions are further subdivided into ten provinces. The regions of Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra encompass 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 as Laayoune TV . Following the 1975 Green March , the Moroccan state initiated settlement programs that encouraged numerous Moroccans to relocate to
480-401: 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 a United Nations -brokered ceasefire agreement in 1991, approximately two-thirds of the territory has been occupied by Morocco, encompassing most of the coastline. This area
504-401: The tenure of any minister, and after consultation with the heads of the higher and lower Assemblies, to dissolve the Parliament, suspend the constitution, call for new elections, or rule by decree, the only time this happened was in 1965. The King is formally the chief of the military. Upon the death of his father Mohammed V , King Hassan II succeeded to the throne in 1961. He ruled Morocco for
SECTION 20
#1732766047477528-414: The three wilayas of Boujdour , Smara , and Laayoune . In 1983, further changes occurred, resulting in the establishment of four wilayas, with the addition of Dakhla . In 1990, Wadi al-Dhahab ( Río de Oro ) was also incorporated. As of 2022, the Southern Provinces are organized into three regions: Guelmim-Oued Noun in the north, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra in the center, and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab in
552-685: 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
576-532: Was formerly a Spanish colony known as the Spanish Sahara . In the 1970s, Spain faced mounting pressure from Morocco to relinquish the territory, culminating in the Green March , a large-scale demonstration organized by the Moroccan government on November 6, 1975. The Green March was orchestrated to compel Spain to transfer Western Sahara to Morocco. The Madrid Accords , ratified just 12 days after
#476523