Three equale horizontal bands - black (top), white and red with vertical red crescent and five-pointed star in the middle of white band. Red triangle with base on edge of flag (hoist).
Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Elevation extremes:
Sebjet Tah -55 m - unnamed location 463 m
Internet country code:
.eh
Currency:
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Name - conventional long form:
none
Name - conventional short form:
Western Sahara
Former name:
Spanish Sahara
Government type:
Legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved, territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR),led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ and recognized by 54 nations, territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds, Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control, the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984, guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991