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Economy of Western Sahara

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Economy of Western Sahara

Currency	Moroccan Dirham (MAD) de facto
Fiscal year	calendar year
Trade organisations	Morocco claims and administers most of Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic laying claim to the territory has ratified AEC treaty, but is not active;
Statistics
GDP	$908.9 million (2007 est)
GDP per capita	2,500 (2007 est)
Labour force	144,000 (2012[update])
Labour force by occupation	agriculture (50%), services (50%)
Main industries	Phosphates, fishing
External
Export goods	phosphates 62%
Import goods	fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Public finances
Government debt	N/A
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Politics of the SADR
Constitution Nationality law
Executive President Brahim Gali Prime Minister Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun
Legislature Sahrawi National Council President: Hamma Salama
Judiciary Constitutional Council Supreme Court Court of Appeal Judicial system
Politics Parties: Polisario Front
Administrative divisions Free Zones Municipalities Sahrawi refugee camps
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2016 2019 2023 Legislative: 2016 2020 2023
Foreign relations International recognition Political status of Western Sahara Western Sahara conflict ICJ Advisory Opinion Diplomatic missions of / to the SADR Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Other countries
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Politics of Morocco
Constitution Human rights
Monarchy King (list) Mohammed VI Makhzen Dahir
Government Prime Minister (list) Aziz Akhannouch Cabinet
Parliament House of Councillors House of Representatives
Judiciary
Administrative divisions Regions Prefectures and provinces Municipalities and communes
Elections Recent elections Parliamentary: 2011 2016 2021 Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Nasser Bourita Diplomatic missions of / in Morocco Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Western Sahara conflict
Morocco portal Other countries
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The majority of the territory of Western Sahara is currently administered by the Kingdom of Morocco. As such, the majority of the economic activity of Western Sahara happens in the framework of the economy of Morocco.

In the Moroccan-administered territory, fishing and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population.^[1] The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production;^[2] hence, most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government.^[1]

The Free Zone (POLISARIO-administered territory) is mainly uninhabited. There is practically no economical infrastructure and the main activity is camel herding nomadism. The government-in-exile of the Polisario Front had also signed contracts for oil exploration,^[3] but there is no practical work, due to the fact that the zones given are in the Moroccan-controlled part of the territory.^{[citation needed]}

Key agricultural products from Western Sahara include fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases), as well as camels, sheep and goats. Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.^[4][5][6]

Energy consumption[edit]

• Electricity – production: 0 (all estimates are for 2015)^[1]
• Electricity – consumption: 0^[1]
• Oil – production: 0 barrels per day (0 m³/d)^[1]
• Oil – consumption: 1,700 barrels per day (270 m³/d)^[1]

Disputes over natural resources[edit]

Fishing and oil exploration contracts concerning Western Sahara are sources of political tension.^[4][5][6] In 2015, a European court invalidated a trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Morocco that involved Western Sahara, prompting a diplomatic backlash from Morocco.^[7] In 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that a fishing treaty between the EU and the Moroccan government did not include fishing grounds off the coast of Western Sahara.^[8] In April 2010, the Norwegian state-owned salmon company EWOS stopped the purchases of fish oil from Western Sahara and Morocco (with an amount of around 10 million euros annually, and estimated between 12,000 and 20,000 tons of fish oil in total),^[9] for "not being in line with the Norwegian authorities' recommendations".^[10]

In 2002, the petroleum companies TotalEnergies and Kerr-McGee were awarded contracts to explore for oil in the region.^[6] In December 2004, French oil company TotalEnergies decided not to renew their license off Western Sahara.^[11] In May 2006, Kerr-McGee decided to not renew the contract signed with the Moroccan Authorities.^[12] The US-based firm Kosmos Energy began a contract to explore offshore from Western Sahara in 2013, prompting criticism from activist groups such as Western Sahara Resource Watch.^[6] Desertec, a Munich-based solar energy company, declined to place a plant in Western Sahara for "reputational reasons."^[13]

See also[edit]

• Economy of Morocco
• Legal status of Western Sahara
• Western Saharan cuisine
• Western Sahara portal

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Economy of Western SaharaatCurlie
• SADR Oil and Gas exploration, licence offering