Ain Ben Tili
Encyclopedia
Ain Ben Tili is a small town in northeast Mauritania
, on the border with Western Sahara
, in the Sahara desert.
On October 12, 1975, the Polisario Front
gathered a large number of Sahrawi tribal
elders in a conference in Ain Ben Tili to rally the tribes against impending Moroccan
and Mauritania
n invasion. The timing was intended to predate the October 16 Green March
that staked Morocco's claim to what was then Spanish Sahara
. The meeting resulted in a declaration of support from the tribes to Polisario, including by many from the pro-Spanish
PUNS
party and the Djema'a
. As a result of the Ain Ben Tili gathering, a conference by the Djema'a was organized in Guelta Zemmur
on November 28, where the Djema'a dissolved itself after declaring support to Polisario.
Since 1976, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
celebrates October 12 as National Unity Day.
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, on the border with Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
, in the Sahara desert.
On October 12, 1975, the Polisario Front
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
gathered a large number of Sahrawi tribal
Tribalism
The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the small size of tribes, it is always a relatively simple role structure, with few significant social distinctions between individuals....
elders in a conference in Ain Ben Tili to rally the tribes against impending Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
n invasion. The timing was intended to predate the October 16 Green March
Green March
The Green March was a strategic mass demonstration in November 1975, coordinated by the Moroccan government, to force Spain to hand over the disputed, autonomous semi-metropolitan Spanish Province of Sahara to Morocco.-Background:...
that staked Morocco's claim to what was then Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara
Spanish Sahara was the name used for the modern territory of Western Sahara when it was ruled as a territory by Spain between 1884 and 1975...
. The meeting resulted in a declaration of support from the tribes to Polisario, including by many from the pro-Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
PUNS
Sahrawi National Union Party
Partido de Unión Nacional Saharaui was a short-lived political party set up by Spain to rally support in its rebellious Spanish Sahara colony .- Creation of PUNS:...
party and the Djema'a
Djema'a
The term Djema'a can refer to two things in a Western Sahara context.-Djema'a: Tribal Leadership:The Djema'a was the leading body in a Sahrawi tribe, composed of elders and elected leaders...
. As a result of the Ain Ben Tili gathering, a conference by the Djema'a was organized in Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur
Guelta Zemmur is a small town or village in the Moroccan-administered territory of Western Sahara.The town is based around a guelta or oasis, retaining rain water for long periods...
on November 28, where the Djema'a dissolved itself after declaring support to Polisario.
Since 1976, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...
celebrates October 12 as National Unity Day.