Saguia el-Hamra

This article is about broader region. For river itself, see Saguia el-Hamra (river).

Part of a series on the
Western Sahara conflict
Background
Spanish Sahara Greater Morocco Moroccan Army of Liberation Movement for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Wadi el Dhahab Polisario Front Sahrawi National Union Party Madrid Accords
Disputed regions
Saguia el-Hamra Río de Oro Southern Provinces Free Zone
Politics
Political status of Western Sahara Politics of Morocco / of the SADR Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs
Rebellions
Ifni War Zemla Intifada Western Sahara War Independence Intifada First Intifada Gdeim Izik Arab Spring protests
Issues
Refugees Tindouf camps Moroccan Wall Human rights
Peace process
UN resolutions UN visiting mission UN referendum mission ICJ Advisory Opinion Settlement Plan Houston Agreement Baker Plan Manhasset negotiations Autonomy Proposal

Saguia el-Hamra (Spanish: Saguia el Hamra, Arabic: الساقية الحمراء‎, trans. al-Saqiyah al-Hamra'a; literally in Arabic, "Red Canal") is, with Río de Oro, one of the two territories that formed the Spanish province of Spanish Sahara after 1969. Its name comes from a waterway that goes through the capital.

Occupying the northern part of Western Sahara, it lies between the 26th parallel north and 27°50'N. The city of Cape Bojador serves to divide the regions. Its capital is El Aaiún (Laâyoune), and it also includes the city of Smara.

The territory takes its name from an intermittent river, the Saguia el-Hamra, the route of which runs dues west from south of El Farcya to reach the Atlantic at Laayoune.

The area is roughly 31,660 mi.² (82,000 km²), making it approximately a third of the entire country.