Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Explained

Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra (ar|العيون - الساقية الحمراء|al-ʿuyūn as-sāqiya l-ḥamrāʾ) is one of the twelve regions of Morocco. It is mainly located in the disputed territory of Western Sahara: the western part of the region is administered by Morocco and the eastern part by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The region as claimed by Morocco covers an area of ^[1] and had a population of 367,758 as of the 2014 Moroccan census.^[2] The capital of the region is Laâyoune.^[3]

Geography

Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra borders the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun to the north and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab to the south. It shares its eastern border with Mauritania's Tiris Zemmour Region, and to its west is the Atlantic Ocean. The towns of Tarfaya, El Marsa and Boujdour are located on the Atlantic coast, and the Canary Islands are located offshore. The regional capital Laâyoune is located inland near El Marsa, and the region's second-largest town Smara is located near its geographic centre. The Moroccan Wall runs through the region and the area to its east is under the control of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

History

Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra was formed in September 2015 by attaching Es Semara Province, formerly part of Guelmim-Es Semara region, to the former region of Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra.

On 29 October 2023, the Polisario Front carried out an operation in the Es Semara Province of the region, dropping four explosive projectiles, killing one Moroccan civilian and injuring three.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Government

The first president of the regional council, Hamdi Ould Errachid, was elected on 14 September 2015.^[7] He is a member of the Istiqlal Party and previously headed the council of the former Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region.^[8] His uncle Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid is the mayor of Laayoune.^[9] Yahdih Bouchab was appointed governor (wali) of the region on 13 October 2015.^[10]

Subdivisions

Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra consists of four provinces:

• Boujdour Province
• Es Semara Province
• Laâyoune Province
• Tarfaya Province

Notes and References

1. Web site: La Région de Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra . fr . 2 . Ministry of the Interior, Morocco . 2015 . 9 October 2017.
2. Web site: POPULATION LÉGALE DES RÉGIONS, PROVINCES, PRÉFECTURES, MUNICIPALITÉS, ARRONDISSEMENTS ET COMMUNES DU ROYAUME D’APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DU RGPH 2014 . ar, fr . . 8 April 2015 . 29 September 2017.
3. Web site: Décret fixant le nom des régions . 20 February 2015 . 11 December 2015 . pdf . Portail National des Collectivités Territoriales . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083233/http://www.pncl.gov.ma/fr/EspaceJuridique/DocLib/d%C3%A9cret%20fixant%20le%20nombre%20des%20r%C3%A9gions.pdf . 18 May 2015 .
4. Web site: Polisario Attack on Smara: A Worrying Escalation for Morocco The Washington Institute . 2023-12-16 . www.washingtoninstitute.org . en.
5. Web site: 1 dead, 3 hurt as multiple blasts rock Western Sahara – DW – 10/29/2023 . 2023-12-16 . dw.com . en.
6. Web site: 2023-10-30 . Experts weigh in on implications of Polisario Front attacks in Samara . 2023-12-16 . HESPRESS English - Morocco News . en-US.
7. News: 14 September 2015 . Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid élu président de la région Laâyoune-Sakia Al Hamra . Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid elected president of Laâyoune-Sakia Al Hamra region . fr . . 11 December 2015.
8. News: Laabid . Mohamed . 1 October 2012 . Laâyoune: Sidi Hamdi Ould Rachid reconduit à la tête du conseil régional . Laâyoune: Sidi Hamdi Ould Rachid renewed as head of regional council . fr . . 11 December 2015.
9. News: Alami . Ziad . 13 September 2015 . Régionales 2015: le Parti de l’Istiqlal renforce sa poigne sur la région de Laâyoune-Saguia Al Hamra . Regional elections 2015: the Istiqlal Party reinforces its grip on Laâyoune-Saguia Al Hamra region . fr . Le360 . 11 December 2015.
10. News: 14 October 2015 . SM le Roi a procédé à la nomination les Walis des régions . His majesty the King appointed the Walis of the regions . fr . . 13 December 2015.