الصحراء الغربية « ƆAL-SAHRĀƆ ƆAL-ĞARBĪAḦ »
— Officially: الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية « ɔal-Ĝumhūrīaḧ ɔal-Carabīaḧ ɔal-Sahrāŭīaḧ ɔal-Dīmuqrātīaḧ ».
— English: Western Sahara.
— Seats of government: تندوف « Tindūf » and بير لحلو « Bīr Lahlū ».
— Status: Not democratic.
— Structure: Semi-elected committees of self-governance among the population form the General Popular Congress, which selects a secretary general and secretariat.
— Governing party: جبهة البوليزاريو « Ĝabhaḧ ɔal-Boŭlīzārīoŭ » (Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro).
— Head of government: محمد عبد العزيز « Muham:ad Cabd ɔal-Cazīz », secretary general.
— Assessment: Small revolt against the rule of المغرب الاقصى « ɔal-Mağrib ɔal-Ɔaqsaj », supporting the distinctive صحراوى « Sahrāŭī » culture. The great majority of land recognized as “Western Sahara” is actually controlled by المغرب الاقصى « ɔal-Mağrib ɔal-Ɔaqsaj »; تندوف « Tindūf » is located in the recognized territory of دزائر « Dzāỉr » but is effectively under the control of البوليزاريو « ɔal-Boŭlīzārīoŭ », as is the land east of the Berm, a defensive embankment built by المغرب الاقصى « ɔal-Mağrib ɔal-Ɔaqsaj ». محمد عبد العزيز « Muham:ad Cabd ɔal-Cazīz » has been secretary general since 1976.
— Updated: 2014 December 2.
O.T. FORD