Is Western Sahara a country?

Question

I have taken a test of all of the African countries. Its a really cool test. However, it does not list Western Sahara as a country, even though it appears on my map. Can you tell me why that would be? Is it a mistake or is Western Sahara under some sort of dispute?

here is the link to the test.
http://mytruepeeps.com/africa.html

Answer 1

Western Sahara (Arabic: الصحراء الغربية; transliterated: al-Ṣaḥrā' al-Gharbīyah; Spanish: Sahara Occidental) is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. It is a territory of northwestern Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The largest city is El Aaiún (Laâyoune), which is home to over a third of the population of the territory.

Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.

The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) dispute control of the territory. Since a United Nations-sponsored cease-fire agreement in 1991, most of the territory has been controlled by Morocco, with a rump under the control of Polisario/SADR. Internationally, the major powers such as the United States have taken a generally ambiguous and neutral position on each side's claims, and have pressed both parties to agree on a peaceful resolution. Both Morocco and Polisario have sought to boost their claims by accumulating formal recognition, from largely minor states. Polisario has won formal recognition for SADR from roughly 45 states, and was extended membership in the African Union, while Morocco has won formal recognition for its position from 25 states, as well as the membership of the the Arab League[1][2]. In both instances, recognitions have over the past two decades been extended and withdrawn according to changing international trends.

Answer 2

Western Sahara used to be a Spanish colony. Current ownership is disputed between Morocco and an separatist group called the Polisario Front. This has been the status quo for 40 years. The UN lists it as a "non-self governing territory", an ambiguous designation which means it's neither a country nor a dependency.

Answer 3

Western Sahara is a territory claimed by Morocco but it is its own country .
Western Sahara is in the au (African Union) but Morocco is the only country in Africa not in the African union . My point is Western Sahara and Morocco can't be the same because ones in the African Union and the other isn't

Answer 4

Uh, the Sahara is a desert, you know, like a gargantuan sandbox, very little water, extremely hot in the day and cold at night, not a country. Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. It used to be a Spanish colony.

Answer 5

No, Western Sahara is a region of land west of the Sahara Desert.

Answer 6

Western Sahara belongs to Morocco.