Algeria profile Oct 21, 2009
Politics: President Bouteflika led his country out of the civil war that broke out when Islamists were denied an election victory; rebel activity surged again at the end of 2006 Economy: Algeria is a key oil and gas supplier International: Tension persists between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara, where nomadic Saharans are seeking self-determination. Algeria was originally inhabited by Berbers until the Arabs conquered North Africa in the 7th century. (BBC News -- Africa)
Official: Mauritanian ex-coup leader wins election Jul 20, 2009
03 million square km. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Senegal on the southwest, by Mali on the east and southeast, by Algeria on the northeast, and by Western Sahara on the northwest. The capital and the largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast. (Xinhuanet, China)
Country profile: Mauritania Jul 20, 2009
But Morocco's King Hassan II later improved ties as part of his plan to divide Western Sahara. The eventual deal in 1976 brought more problems, though, with Mauritania coming under attack by Polisario Front guerrillas, who opposed Moroccan control of Western Sahara, and the subsequent downfall of the leader since independence - Moktar Ould Daddah - in a military coup. (BBC News -- Africa)
Timeline: Mauritania Jul 20, 2009
1976 - Mauritania and Morocco divide up Spanish Sahara, now known as Western Sahara, after Spain pulls out ... 1979 - Mauritania signs a peace agreement with the Polisario front and renounces its claim to Western Sahara. (BBC News -- Africa)
8,000 Artists Celebrate In Panafrican Festival Jul 10, 2009
Morocco hasn't either, because it withdrew from the African Union after the contested Western Sahara territory was included. Other countries, meanwhile, are teetering from recent coups, such as Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania. (CBS News -- World)
The West should focus on North Africa Apr 8, 2009
Such efforts must be teamed with further impetus on economic regional cooperation and forward movement on the Western Sahara conflict. It is now time for a policy that takes into account the region's stability issues and makes all of North Africa into a development partner, rather than a potential time bomb, and ensures that having an election season actually means something. (Yahoo News)
