WESTERN SAHARA, THE CHURCH IN

An arid region located on the northwest coast of africa, the territory of Western Sahara is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, on the north by morocco, on the northeast by algeria, and on the east and south by mauritania. Consisting of low, flat, desert, the region is hot and dry, although it's brief annual rainy season

draws thousands of nomads from neighboring countries. Coastal fishing, agriculture and some livestock raising provide a basic livelihood for most Saharan nomads, although the exploitation by Spain of phosphates and iron ore has traditionally employed many people living in the region.

The Portuguese explored the coastal area in the 15th century although no effort was made to colonize it. Because of its location near the Canary Islands, Spain officially claimed a protectorate over the region in 1884, but did not occupy it until 1934 due to resistance by nomadic natives. In 1954 the Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and ifni was created out of the Vicariate Apostolic of Ghardaia in Algeria, and entrusted to the Spanish province of the oblates of mary immaculate. Four years later, as the Spanish Sahara, the region became an integral province of Spain. Infi was later removed to another ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

In the mid-1950s the Western Sahara was discovered to contain rich phosphate deposits, prompting native Saharan's to develop a sense of nationalism. Within two decades the region became the focus of a territorial dispute, as the three surrounding nations attempted to gain total control of the region following Spain's decision to terminate its claim in 1976. In the midst of secret negotiations between Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania, a nationalist faction known as the Polisaro Front proclaimed itself the government-in-exile of the region, and dubbed the region the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Through guerilla violence, the Polisaro deterred Mauritania from pursuing its territorial claims. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice, meeting in The Hague, rejected Morocco's claim for total sovereignty. Morocco ignored this decision, as well as a mediated U.N. referendum following a cease-fire in 1991, and continued to press its claim into the 21st century.

By 2000 the territory of the Western Sahara contained two parishes administered by three religious priests; the Catholic population consisted mainly of Spaniards and members of the U.N. Interposition Force. Contact with the Muslim majority was limited to educational and cultural matters, which served as a vehicle for dialogue between the two faiths. Most Saharans were ethnic Arabs or Berbers. Morocco retained administrative control of the territory through 2000.

Bibliography: Annuario Pontificio, (1964) 786.

[j. a. bell/eds.]