Bir Lehlou
Encyclopedia
Bir Lehlou is a small town in north-eastern Western Sahara
, near the Mauritanian border and east of the border wall, in POLISARIO-held territory. It has a dispensary and a school. It is the head of the 5th 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
.
The name "Bir Lehlou" is transcribed from Arabic
, and means "the sweet water well". The Arabic transcription would be "bir lahlu" (بير لحلو).
, Algeria
, administers it as the temporary capital of the SADR, as long as the Sahrawi
capital of El-Aaiun
is under Moroccan
control. For example, it had been the scenario of reunions of SADR's National Secretariat. This is also from where the republic's existence was proclaimed over radio on the night of February 27, 1976, by its first president, El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed
. Some sources list also Bir Lehlou as El-Ouali's birthplace.
Today's "Radio Nacional de la Republica Árabe Saharaui Democrática" (National Radio of the SADR) keeps broadcasting from there on both medium and short wave, webcasting the programming in Hassaniya
Arabic, and also some hours in Spanish
.
On May 20, 2005, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the beginning of the armed struggle of the Polisario Front, a primary school was inaugurated in Bir Lehlou. The school was named "José Ramón Diego Aguirre" (Spanish colonel and historian, first foreigner to be awarded with the Sahrawi honorific nationality) in his honour.
On February 27, 2010, Bir Lehlou hosted the 34th anniversary of the proclamation of the SADR, with the presence of several African and South American ambassadors.
On October 12, 2011, during the 36th National Unity Day celebrations, commander of the Sahrawi 5th militar region Hama Salama inaugurated an ampliation of the town's school, as well as a mosque.
with:
Batna
, Batna Province
, Algeria
(since July 8, 2009) Benalúa de las Villas
, Granada
, Andalucía, Spain
(since 2001) Capraia e Limite
, Firenze
, Toscana, Italy
Campi Bisenzio
, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Pozuelo de Alarcón
, Madrid
, Spain (since April 23, 2008) Prato
, Prato, Toscana, Italy La Rinconada
, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain Montemurlo
, Prato, Toscana,Italy Monteroni d'Arbia
, Siena
, Toscana, Italy Montevarchi
, Arezzo
, Toscana, Italy
Novelda
, Alicante
, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since December 2008) San Piero a Sieve
, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Sagunto
, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since November 29, 2003) Tolosa
, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain (since 1996)
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...
, near the Mauritanian border and east of the border wall, in POLISARIO-held territory. It has a dispensary and a school. It is the head of the 5th military region of 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...
.
It is also the name of a Daïra
Daïra
A daïra |circle]]; plural dawaïr) is an administrative division of a wilaya in Algeria and in Western Sahara. Another transliteration of the word is Daerah.*Daïra of Algeria*Daïra of Western Sahara-See also:* Provinces of Algeria...
of the Wilaya of Smara
Smara
Smara, also Semara , is a city in the Moroccan-Administered Western Sahara, with a population estimated at 42,056.-History:The largest city in its province, Smara was founded in the Saguia el-Hamra as an oasis for travellers in 1869. It is the only major city in Western Sahara that was not founded...
, in the Sahrawi refugee camps
Refugee camps in Tindouf Province, Algeria
The Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, are a collection of refugee camps, set up in the Tindouf Province, Algeria in 1975-76 for Sahrawi refugees fleeing from Moroccan forces, who advanced through Western Sahara during the Western Sahara War...
.
The name "Bir Lehlou" is transcribed from Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, and means "the sweet water well". The Arabic transcription would be "bir lahlu" (بير لحلو).
History
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, an exiled government seated in TindoufTindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, administers it as the temporary capital of the SADR, as long as the Sahrawi
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...
capital of El-Aaiun
El Aaiún
El-Aaiún , is a city in Western Sahara founded by the Spanish in 1928. Administered by Morocco since 1976, El-Aaiún is the capital of what the Moroccan government call the region of Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, and POLISARIO call Occupied Territories...
is under 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...
control. For example, it had been the scenario of reunions of SADR's National Secretariat. This is also from where the republic's existence was proclaimed over radio on the night of February 27, 1976, by its first president, El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed
El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed
El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed was a Sahrawi nationalist leader, co-founder and second Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, & also the first President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic....
. Some sources list also Bir Lehlou as El-Ouali's birthplace.
Today's "Radio Nacional de la Republica Árabe Saharaui Democrática" (National Radio of the SADR) keeps broadcasting from there on both medium and short wave, webcasting the programming in Hassaniya
Hassaniya
Hassānīya is the variety of Arabic originally spoken by the Beni Hassān Bedouin tribes, who extended their authority over most of Mauritania and the Western Sahara between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. It has almost completely replaced the Berber languages spoken in this region...
Arabic, and also some hours in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
On May 20, 2005, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the beginning of the armed struggle of the Polisario Front, a primary school was inaugurated in Bir Lehlou. The school was named "José Ramón Diego Aguirre" (Spanish colonel and historian, first foreigner to be awarded with the Sahrawi honorific nationality) in his honour.
On February 27, 2010, Bir Lehlou hosted the 34th anniversary of the proclamation of the SADR, with the presence of several African and South American ambassadors.
On October 12, 2011, during the 36th National Unity Day celebrations, commander of the Sahrawi 5th militar region Hama Salama inaugurated an ampliation of the town's school, as well as a mosque.
Twin towns - Sister cities
Bir Lehlou is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Batna
Batna City
Batna is the main city of Batna Province, Algeria. With a population of 285,800 it is the fifth largest city in Algeria. It is also one of the principal cities of the Chaoui area and is considered the capital of the Aures.-History:...
, Batna Province
Batna Province
Batna is a wilaya of Algeria. Capital is Batna. Localities in this province include Barika, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park is there.- Administrative divisions :It is made up of 22 districts and 61 municipalities.The districts are:...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
(since July 8, 2009) Benalúa de las Villas
Benalúa de las Villas
Benalúa de las Villas is a city located in the province of Granada, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the city has a population of 1391 inhabitants....
, Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Andalucía, Spain
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...
(since 2001) Capraia e Limite
Capraia e Limite
Capraia e Limite is a comune in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 20 km west of Florence. It consists of two main centers, Capraia Fiorentina e Limite sull'Arno.-External links:*...
, Firenze
Firenze
Firenze is the Italian name for the city of Florence.Firenze may also refer to:* Andrea da Firenze, an Italian composer* Lorenzo da Firenze, an Italian composer and music teacher of the trecento...
, Toscana, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Campi Bisenzio
Campi Bisenzio
Campi Bisenzio is a comune in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 10 km northwest of Florence.-History:...
, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón is a suburb of over 85,000 inhabitants near the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. It is surrounded by large Mediterranean pine-tree forests: la Casa de Campo, el Monte del Pardo and el Monte del Pilar...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain (since April 23, 2008) Prato
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
, Prato, Toscana, Italy La Rinconada
La Rinconada
La Rinconada is a city located in the province of Seville, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the city has a population of 33370 inhabitants.-External links:* - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía...
, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain Montemurlo
Montemurlo
Montemurlo is a comune in the Province of Prato in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 25 km northwest of Florence and about 8 km northwest of Prato...
, Prato, Toscana,Italy Monteroni d'Arbia
Monteroni d'Arbia
Monteroni d'Arbia is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 60 km south of Florence and about 13 km southeast of Siena in the area known as the Crete Senesi. It takes its names from the Arbia torrent, a tributary of the Ombrone River.-Main...
, Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, Toscana, Italy Montevarchi
Montevarchi
Montevarchi is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy.- History :The town of Montevarchi sprang up around 1100, near to a fortified Benedictine monastery founded by bishop Elempert of Arezzo. At first the castle belonged to the Marquess Bourbon del Monte di Santa Maria, then...
, Arezzo
Arezzo
Arezzo is a city and comune in Central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about 80 km southeast of Florence, at an elevation of 296 m above sea level. In 2011 the population was about 100,000....
, Toscana, Italy
Novelda
Novelda
Novelda is a town located in the province of Alicante, Spain. , it has a total population of 27,135 inhabitants.Novelda has important quarries and mines of marble, limestone, silica, clay and gypsum. It is a major centre of the marble industry....
, Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since December 2008) San Piero a Sieve
San Piero a Sieve
San Piero a Sieve is a comune in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 20 km north of Florence.-Main sights:The Medici Villa del Trebbio is located in San Piero's territory.-References:...
, Firenze, Toscana, Italy Sagunto
Sagunto
Sagunto or Sagunt is an ancient city in Eastern Spain, in the modern fertile comarca of Camp de Morvedre in the province of Valencia. It is located in a hilly site, c. 30 km north of Valencia, close to the Costa del Azahar on the Mediterranean Sea...
, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since November 29, 2003) Tolosa
Tolosa, Spain
Tolosa is a town and municipality to the south of Donostia-San Sebastián in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain. It is located in a valley of the river Oria and overlooked by Uzturre, a white cross-topped mountain.-Famous people from Tolosa:...
, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain (since 1996)
See also
- Politics of Western SaharaPolitics of Western SaharaThe politics of Western Sahara take place in a framework of an area claimed by both the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Morocco, which controls the majority of the territory....
- History of Western SaharaHistory of Western SaharaThe history of Western Sahara can be traced back to the times of Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator in the 5th century BC. Though few historical records are left from that period, Western Sahara's modern history has its roots linked to some nomadic groups such as the Sanhaja group and the...