Western Sahara Country Report

The unresolved status of Western Sahara remains a long-term threat to the territory's stability and presents a latent threat of armed conflict. Civil unrest over socioeconomic issues or arising from tensions between ethnic Sahrawis and Moroccans does occur. Although crime rates are generally lower than in Morocco, petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft from vehicles continues to pose a risk to travelers, with foreign nationals occasionally being targeted in robberies and assaults due to perceptions of relative wealth. The territory's unresolved political status and relatively porous borders have left it vulnerable to infiltration by terrorist groups and criminal gangs operating in the Sahel.

Transportation options in Western Sahara are limited and independent travel within the disputed territory is restricted. Food and waterborne diseases pose the most common health threat to travelers in Western Sahara. Basic medical care is available but generally does not meet international standards and is extremely limited in more remote areas, particularly those under Polisario Front control. Hot dry winds and desert conditions can disrupt travel as well as pose health hazards. Due to the unresolved status of Western Sahara and the continued militarization of areas separating the Morrocan and Polisario-controlled regions, there remains a high level of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmine contamination in the territory, particularly along the berm.

Western Sahara remains split along the Western Sahara Berm, or Moroccan Western Sahara Sand Wall, separating the territory into Moroccan controlled area on the west side and a Polisario Front-controlled area on the east. The 1991 ceasefire border is monitored by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) peacekeepers. There have been occasional flare-ups of tensions in the territory over the last few years and aggressive rhetoric from both sides in the dispute. However, the ceasefire has continued to hold, and the risk of renewed conflict remains low. Levels of criminal activity in the territory are generally considered slightly lower than in many urban centers in Morocco, but statistics are not readily available, and petty theft remains a problem. There is a credible threat from terrorism-related activities in Western Sahara, with several groups reportedly looking to carry out attacks in the territory. However, Western Sahara has not seen any recent attacks.

Overland travel is hazardous due to poor road infrastructure and difficult climatic conditions. Whilst most roads have been cleared of UXO, there remains a significant risk of mine strikes if driving off-road or on minor routes close to the berm. Western Sahara’s disputed status has inhibited the development of modern electricity and communications infrastructure and the electricity supply is generally unreliable in many areas. Entry and exit points can also be closed with little notice.

Western Sahara has an arid climate, with warmer temperatures in the interior and milder conditions in coastal areas. Hot, dry, and usually dust or sand-laden winds during winter and spring can create respiratory problems and pose a hazard to motorists. Western Sahara is one of the heaviest landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO)-contaminated territories in the world, particularly around the berm separating the Moroccan and Polisario-controlled areas of the territory.

Food and waterborne illnesses pose the most common health threat to travelers in Western Sahara, as both the level of infrastructural development and sanitation standards are below international standards. Medical facilities can be found in Laayoune, Dhakla, and Smara, but available services are limited and medical evacuation may be required for more advanced care or long-term treatment. Although common prescription drugs are available in the territory's major urban centers, some pharmaceuticals may be in short supply.

The status of Western Sahara is disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front, a separatist group that claims the territory for the Sahrawi ethnic group. The territory remains split into Moroccan and Polisario-controlled areas, with the 1991 ceasefire being monitored by United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) peacekeepers. However, the territory's major urban centers and most important political frameworks are administered by the Moroccan government.

Geopolitical tensions between Morocco and its neighbors remain high around the disputed territory of Western Sahara. In August 2022, Tunisia hosted the head of Polisario Front, the main independence movement of Western Sahara, during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). This move led to a diplomatic crisis between Marrakech and Tunis and reignited the decades-long tensions with Algiers. While Tunisia remains neutral in the conflict, Western Sahara remains a flashpoint between Rabat and Algiers as the latter has allowed the Polisario Front to operate in Algeria, where they maintain training bases.