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26-917: (Redirected from Freezone ) [REDACTED] Look up free zone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Free zone may refer to Places and areas [ edit ] Free Zone (region) , part of Western Sahara Zone libre ('free zone'), a partition of the French metropolitan territory during World War II Special economic zone Free economic zone , or free zone, or free port Free-trade zone Other uses [ edit ] Free Zone (film) , 2005 film Free Zone (Scientology) , independent groups and individuals who practice Scientology beliefs See also [ edit ] All pages with titles containing free zone Free Territory (disambiguation) Azad Kashmir ('free Kashmir') Free area of
52-416: 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 the three wilayas of Boujdour , Smara , and Laayoune . In 1983, further changes occurred, resulting in
78-552: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Free Zone (region) The Free Zone or Liberated Territories ( Arabic : المنطقة الحرة , romanized : al-minṭaqa al-ḥurra ) is a term used by the Polisario Front government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic , a partially recognized sovereign state in the western Maghreb , to describe
104-663: The Berm ), while the remaining part constitutes the Polisario Front-controlled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic . Morocco treats 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
130-689: The President of the Polisario proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic . The total size of the Polisario's guerrilla army present in this area is unknown. Some sources claim between 3,000 and 6,000 men, while others rise the number up to 12,000, with additional combatants stationed in Algeria, Mauritania or having been demobilized due to the cease-fire . These forces are dug into permanent positions, such as gun emplacements, defensive trenches and underground military bases, as well as conducting mobile patrols of
156-641: The Sahrawi National Council (the SADR parliament in exile) are held in the zone (especially in Tifariti and Bir Lehlou ), since it is considered socially, politically and symbolically important to conduct political affairs on Sahrawi land. The Polisario troops (of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army (SPLA)) in the area are divided into seven "military regions", each controlled by a top commander reporting to
182-459: 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 was formerly a Spanish colony known as the Spanish Sahara . In
208-593: 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 the Green March, stipulated that Spain would exit Western Sahara by February 28, 1976, at
234-530: The 1975 Green March , the Moroccan state has sponsored settlement schemes enticing thousands of Moroccans to move into the Moroccan-occupied part (approx. 70% of the disputed territory ). The major settlements on the zone are Tifariti (current temporary capital ), Bir Lehlou (former temporary capital), Agounit , Dougaj , Meharrize , Mijek , and Zug . Access is difficult even for Sahrawis due to
260-531: The Berm. The MINURSO details the following restrictions for the different zones: Each of the five parts has specific restrictions as for the two parties' military activities: The population of the territory east of the Wall is estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 inhabitants. By comparison, it is estimated that 618,600 inhabitants live west of the Wall, of which Moroccan settlers make up at least two thirds. Following
286-530: The Moroccan Wall are staged in the region by Sahrawis and international activists from Spain, Italy and other mainly European countries. These actions are closely monitored by the UN. 23°20′56″N 12°55′59″W / 23.349°N 12.933°W / 23.349; -12.933 Southern Provinces The Southern Provinces or Moroccan Sahara are the terms used by the Moroccan government to refer to
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#1733121500507312-647: The Republic of China "Free Xone", a song on Janet Jackson from the 1997 album The Velvet Rope No symbol Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Free zone . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Free_zone&oldid=1212482924 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
338-611: 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 the Moroccan-administered portion of Western Sahara (accounting for approx. 70% of
364-598: The area and the organization of a referendum on independence. The status of Western Sahara is hotly disputed between Polisario and Morocco, and this includes the names used to refer to areas under the control of the different sides. Morocco routinely refers to the Polisario-held region as a "buffer zone", or "buffer strip", and claims that Polisario forces are not allowed entry, and that both military activities and civilian construction in this area constitute violations of their cease-fire agreement. The Polisario Front, on
390-477: The areas a "liberated territory" or the "free zone", but this is not an official designation. The UN calls it simply "east of the Berm", and refers to territories under Moroccan control as "west of the Berm", thus not giving sanction to the claims of either party. According to the Settlement Plan , the movement of Polisario fighters is restricted similarly to how Moroccan forces face restrictions on their side of
416-542: The entirety of Western Sahara as their territory. The zone was consolidated as a Polisario-held zone in a 1991 cease-fire between the Polisario Front and Morocco, which had been agreed upon together as part of the Settlement Plan . Morocco controls the areas west of the Berm , including most of the territory's population. The cease-fire is overseen by the United Nations' MINURSO forces, charged with peacekeeping in
442-458: 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 the south. These regions are further subdivided into ten provinces. The regions of Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra encompass parts of
468-480: The harsh climate of the Sahara , the military conflict and the abundance of land mines . The area is inhabited primarily by Sahrawi nomads, that maintain the traditional camel herding of their ancestors, between the zone, northern Mauritania and the refugee camps. There is also a small merchant population, who sell goods to travellers. Major Sahrawi political events, such as Polisario congresses and opening sessions of
494-561: 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 the Polisario Front , initiated a guerrilla war on February 27, 1976, with significant financial and logistical support from Algeria and Libya . Their goal
520-452: The other hand, claims this does not correspond to the provisions of the agreement regulating the territory's status, which Morocco signed in 1991, and regards the "buffer strip" as only a slim portion of the entire territory. This zone serves as a division-of-forces no man's land . Areas outside this zone are open to activity by the side that controls them, provided they adhere to some restrictions on military movements. Similarly, Polisario call
546-512: The part of Western Sahara that lies to the east of a 2,200-kilometre (1,400 mi) border wall flanked by a minefield, often referred as the Berm , and to the west and north of the borders with Algeria and Mauritania , respectively. It is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, as opposed to the area to the west of the Berm, which is controlled by Morocco as part of its Southern Provinces . Both states claim
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#1733121500507572-535: 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 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
598-550: 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 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
624-466: The territory. A concentration of forces for the commemoration of the Saharawi Republic's 30th anniversary were however subject to reproach by the United Nations, as it was considered an example of a cease-fire violation to bring such a large force concentration into the area. Minurso reports that there are on average 2–4 such violations in the whole Western Sahara territory each month, between
650-444: The two sides. In addition to this, there are several more violations related to local commanders on both sides refusing the inspection of their forces by Minurso personnel. As an example, the mission homepage quotes the month of June 2006, when there were "189 such FMO [freedom of movement]-violations, all related to the denial of UNMO [UN military officers] entry into the parties' strong-points and units." Annual demonstrations against
676-508: 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 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
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