Tifariti

Tifariti تيفاريتي Tifarita
Tifariti, 2005
Tifariti Location in Western Sahara
Coordinates: 26°9′29″N 10°34′1″W / 26.15806°N 10.56694°W / 26.15806; -10.56694
Territory	Western Sahara
Claimed by	Morocco,  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Controlled by	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Population (2010)
- Total	3,000

Tifariti (also transliterated "Tifarita"; Arabic: تيفاريتي) is an oasis town located in POLISARIO-controlled Western Sahara, east of the Moroccan Berm, and 15 km. north the Mauritanian border. It is part of what POLISARIO call the Liberated Territories and Morocco call the Buffer Zone. It has a hospital, a school, a mosque and a museum. It is also the head of the 2nd military region of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

It is also the name of a Daïra of the Wilaya of Smara, in the Sahrawi refugee camps.

Nowadays, the population of Tifariti is around 3,000 persons^[1].

Tifariti is located between a traditional spiritual centre of the Sahara, founded by the Ma El Ainin, Smara (177 km)^[2] and the Algerian town of Tindouf (320 km), where the Sahrawi refugee camps are located.

History

Primarily a nomadic encampment located near an oasis, it was always a kind of seasonal town for the Sahrawis, an Arabic-speaking Bedouin people controlling the area since medieval times. In 1912, a French Foreign Legion expedition commanded by Captain Gerard, who was trying to link with their troops in Morocco, was exterminated by Sahrawi rebel nomads near Tifariti^[3]. Then, it was used by the Spanish colonizers as an advanced desert military outpost. Now in reconstruction, it is estimated that Tifariti had a population of approximately 7,000 inhabitants in 1975. Its inhabitants largely abandoned the town in 1976 because of the war with Morocco.^[4] Tifariti never had many fixed structures, due to the nomadic lifestyle of the Sahrawis. It is located in a rugged desert area, with little vegetation.

Tifariti during the Western Sahara War

The effects of the 1991 Moroccan air strikes still can be seen in the former Spanish barracks of Tifariti.

Tifariti was the place of several battles during the Western Sahara War (1975–1991) and served as a military base and stronghold for both sides at various points of the war. It was also used as a stopping place for Sahrawi refugees en route to Tindouf (Algeria) during the invasion phase (1975–76). Some sources claim that in January 1976 there were 15,000 Sahrawi refugees around the town.^[5]

The village was briefly occupied by the Moroccan Army in February 1976,^[6] but 2 months later it retreated, being reoccupied by the SPLA in March 1977.^[3]

In the summer of 1977, Moroccan troops controlled again the town, this time for nearly two years. In March 1979, and after the Battle of Tifariti, the town was taken by the Polisario troops, the SPLA,^[7]

During the 1980s, the Moroccan Wall was constructed north of Tifariti, and the terrain around the town was heavily mined. The risk is greatest east of the Berm, especially in the areas of Mehaires, Tifariti and Bir Lahlou where the Royal Moroccan Army (RMA) conducted offensive operations in August–September 1991. The dangerous result is, among others, scattered cluster bombs, still active in these areas.^[8]

In August 1991, weeks before the proclamation of the ceasefire, the Royal Moroccan Air Force repeatedly bombed Tifariti, destroying the buildings and the wells, as well as killing dozens of civilians.^[9][10]

Infrastructure

Hospitals and administrative buildings were built here between 1989 and 1991 by foreign aid agencies in preparation for a Sahrawi refugee return to Western Sahara, for the holding of a UN-backed referendum on either independence or integration with Morocco.

That infrastructures were destroyed by the Royal Moroccan Air Force in August 1991, a few days before the proclamation of the cease-fire^[10][11].

A United Nations airstrip and a base for the MINURSO's peace keeping forces is situated close to Tifariti.^[12]

"Navarra hospital" in Tifariti, Western Sahara. (December 3, 2009).

In April 1999, the "Navarra Hospital" was inaugurated. It was built up with the collaboration of solidarity associations from that Spanish autonomous community^[13]. In January 2001, the patients and equipment of the hospital were evacuated, because of the threat of a re-strarting of the war. Finally, in February 2006, the hospital was re-opened^[14].

On May 21, 2005, and during the celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz (President of the SADR) put the first brick of the building that will host the Sahrawi Parliament, the Sahrawi National Council, and also the first brick of the "Solidarity neighbourhood" new district ^[15].

On February 27, 2007 (31st anniversary of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) a borough of 150 houses named "Solidarity neighbourhood" was inaugurated by SADR's president, Mohamed Abdelaziz. It was built with the help of the Andalusian provinces of Sevilla and Málaga^[16]. On December 21, 2007, Abdelaziz inaugurated a mosque, in the framework of reconstruction and settlement of the Free Zone^[17].

On February 29, 2008, Abdelaziz launched the works of the building of the Mayoralty of Tifariti, and also put the first brick of a small dam to provide the local population with water^[18].

On July 20, 2009, Salek Baba (SADR'S Minister of Reconstruction and Urbanization) visited Tifariti to assess the works of the "Tadamoun" and "Salam" neighbourhoods and a mini-desalination plant^[19]. On October 30, 2009, Abdelkader Taleb Oumar (Prime minister of the SADR) inaugurated a new district of 20 houses. He stated:

“	"The opening of these new residences is a portion of a large project of development in progress, includes other parts of the liberated territory of Meharrize, Bir Tighissit, Bir Lehlu, Mijek and Agounit".	”
—Abdelkader Taleb Omar. Tifariti. October 28, 2009[20].

Politics

In October 2003, the Polisario Front held its XI General Popular Congress here, electing officials to its executive National Secretariat, the exile parliament of the Sahrawi National Council, as well as reelecting (92%) Mohamed Abdelaziz as Secretary General, as has been the case since 1976^[21].

In December 2007, with the presence of 250 international delegates, the XII General Popular Congress of the POLISARIO was held again in Tifariti. Abdelaziz was reelected again (85%)^[22], although he proposed to regulate alternation in the leadership of the POLISARIO^[23]. Also, the members of the National Secretariat were elected^[24].

Since 2010, Larabas Said Jumani (a former minister of the SADR) is the mayor of Tifariti^[25].

Culture

In February 2009, the town hosted the "International Conference on Urbanization and Reconstruction of Liberated Areas"^[26]. The participants signed the "Declaration of Tifariti", with three principal aims:

• Rebuilding and reconstruction of the liberated territories of Western Sahara.
• Preservation of the Spanish language, through the establishment of the "Saharawi Academy for the Spanish language".
• Promotion of the establishment of the "Tifariti University"^[27].

Festivals

Since 2007, Tifariti has been the scenary of "ARTifariti", an annual international encounter of artists from several countries. The art pieces are made in the town and remain there, in the museum of Tifariti or outdoors. On 27 February 2011 Tifariti hosted the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.^[28][29]

Archeologic Park

Few km. away from Tifariti is the "Erqueyez Archeologic Park". This archaeologic set without precedents in this area, provides an interesting lithic manufacture factories from Inferior Paleolithic or Epipaleolithic, mound graves and more than a hundred caves with rocky paintings^[30].

Sports

Outskirts of Tifariti.

Since 2009, Tifariti is the finish line of the "Sahara Bike Race", a 350 km. route in parallel with the Moroccan Wall, that starts in the Wilaya of El Aaiún, in the Sahrawi refugee camps^[31].

International relations

Twin towns - Sister cities

Agliana, Pistoia, Toscana, Italy Aldaya, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since February 24, 2004) Arusha, Arusha Region, Tanzania (since December 21, 2009) Caroní, Bolívar, Venezuela (since July 25, 2011) Istán, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain (since October 15, 2009) Mascara, Mascara Province, Algeria (since June 9, 2008) Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania (since December 21, 2009) Mwanza, Mwanza Region, Tanzania (since December 21, 2009) Las Gabias, Granada, Andalucía, Spain Libertador, Capital District, Venezuela (since November 27, 2005)

Loro Ciuffenna, Arezzo, Toscana, Italy Los Palacios y Villafranca, Sevilla, Spain (since August 5, 1998) Pontassieve, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Signa, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Sumbawanga, Rukwa Region, Tanzania (since December 21, 2009) Tanga, Tanga Region, Tanzania (since December 21, 2009) Valmaseda, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain Venta de Baños, Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain (since December 10, 2009) Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

See also

• Bir Lehlou
• Politics of Western Sahara
• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Notes

1. ^ "Navarra ondea en el Sahara". Diario de Navarra. 18-03-2010. http://www.diariodenavarra.es/20100318/navarra/navarra-ondea-sahara.html?not=2010031800545907&idnot=2010031800545907&dia=20100318&seccion=navarra&seccion2=sociedad&chnl=10. Retrieved 10-09-2010.  (Spanish)
2. ^ Pista número 58: Smara – Tifariti
3. ^ ^{a b} "Festivities of 35th anniversary marking proclamation of SADR kick off". SPS. 27-02-2011. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=16654. Retrieved 02-03-2011. 
4. ^ Marvin Howe, Saharan Guerrillas Roam Freely In Territory Ceded to Moroccans, New York Times, 15 mars 1977.
5. ^ Surendra Bhutani, Conflict on Western Sahara, Strategic Analysis, 1754-0054, Volume 2, Issue 7, 1978, p. 251– 256.
6. ^ "Las tropas marroquíes ocupan el oasis de Tifariti, en el Sahara". ABC. 07-02-1976. http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1976/02/07/030.html. Retrieved 11-09-2010.  (Spanish)
7. ^ "Tifariti, symbol of resistance against the occupier". Sahara Press Service. 20-12-2007. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=467. Retrieved 09-09-2010. 
8. ^ MINURSO Mine action
9. ^ Ana Camacho (08-08-1991). "Marruecos bombardea 'zonas liberadas' del Polisario". El País. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/MARRUECOS/SAHARA_OCCIDENTAL/MARRUECOS/SAHARA_OCCIDENTAL/FRENTE_POLISARIO_/RASD/ORGANIZACION_DE_LAS_NACIONES_UNIDAS_/ONU/Marruecos/bombardea/zonas/liberadas/Polisario/elpepiint/19910808elpepiint_1/Tes. Retrieved 11-09-2010.  (Spanish)
10. ^ ^{a b} "La aviación marroquí bombardea uno de los principales oasis del Sáhara". ABC. 28-08-1991. http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1991/08/28/030.html. Retrieved 11-09-2010.  (Spanish)
11. ^ Milestones in the Western Sahara conflict. MINURSO.
12. ^ Michael Bhatia, Western Sahara under Polisario Control: Summary Report of Field Mission to the Sahrawi Refugee Camps (near Tindouf, Algeria) in Review of African political economy, number 88, June 2001.
13. ^ "Recortes de prensa de la inauguración del Hospital "Navarra" en Tifariti. 1999.". LEFRIG (Centro de Documentación y Museo de la Resistencia del Pueblo Saharaui y la Solidaridad Internacional). 13-04-2009. http://www.lefrig.org/?cont=gloobal&acc=ficha&entidad=Museables&id=300. Retrieved 10-09-2010.  (Spanish)
14. ^ "“Refugiados Saharauis: instalación fotovoltaica en el Hospital Navarra de Tifariti”". ANARASD. http://www.anarasd.org/proyectos.htm. Retrieved 10-09-2010.  (Spanish)
15. ^ "The President of the Republic put the first brick in the new building of the Saharawi Parliament". SPS. 22-05-2005. http://www.spsrasd.info/sps-e220505.html. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
16. ^ Viviendas con ayuda andaluza Flickr (Spanish)
17. ^ "The Head of the Saharawi State inaugurates a mosque in Tifariti". SPS. 21-12-2007. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=498. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
18. ^ "The President of the Republic inaugurates social projects in Tifariti". SPS. 29-02-2008. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=945. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
19. ^ "Urbanization of liberated territories, Minister in charge inspects projects in course of execution". SPS. 20-07-2009. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=6352. Retrieved 11-09-2010. 
20. ^ "Inauguration of new residential district in Tifariti (liberated territories)". SPS. 30-10-2009. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=7736. Retrieved 09-09-2010. 
21. ^ Communiques 2003
22. ^ "POLISARIO’s XIIth congress re-elect Mohamed Abdelaziz as Secretary General". SPS. 20-12-2007. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=475. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
23. ^ "POLISARIO’s sitting Secretary General proposes alternation on the leadership of the movement". SPS. 17-12-2007. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=419. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
24. ^ "POLISARIO Front’s 12th congress elects 25 members of the National Secretariat". SPS. 21-12-2007. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=483. Retrieved 10-09-2010. 
25. ^ "El parque del Alamillo de Sevilla se hermana con el huerto de Tifariti en el Sáhara Occidental". El Mundo. 24-10-2010. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/10/24/andalucia_sevilla/1287936629.html. Retrieved 24-10-2010.  (Spanish)
26. ^ "International Conference on urbanization and reconstruction of liberated areas". SPS. 24-02-2009. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=4117. Retrieved 14-09-2010. 
27. ^ "Sahara-Spain: University of the Desert". Universityworldnews.com. 07-06-2009. http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090604193701480. Retrieved 14-09-2010. 
28. ^ http://stiffkitten.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/western-sahara-35-years-of-colonisation-and-exile-is-enough/
29. ^ http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=16654
30. ^ Teresa Muñiz López (2005). "Los abrigos con pinturas rupestres de Erqueyez (Tifariti, Sáhara Occidental). Prospección arqueológica: Diseño y resultados.". @rqueología y Territorio. Nº 2. p. 1-17.. http://www.ugr.es/~arqueologyterritorio/PDF2/Mugniz.pdf. Retrieved 14-09-2010.  (Spanish)
31. ^ Sahara bike race (Spanish)(English)(French)(Italian)(German)

External links

• Image of Tifariti
• "ARTifariti"
• Tifariti photo album (2007-2009)

Coordinates: 26°09′29″N 10°34′01″W / 26.158°N 10.567°W / 26.158; -10.567