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It is also the name of a daïra of the wilaya of Smara, in the Sahrawi refugee camps.
Tifariti is located between Smara, the traditional spiritual centre of the Sahara founded by Ma El Ainin, (177 km (110 mi) away) and the Algerian town of Tindouf (320 km (200 mi) away), where the Sahrawi refugee camps are located. In 2024, the population of Tifariti was estimated at 83 people.
The government quarter of Tifariti houses the Parliament of the SADR, a hospital, a school, a mosque and a museum.
History
Primarily an encampment located near an oasis, it has historically been a seasonal town for the Sahrawis, an ethnic group 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. Then, it was permanently settled and used by the Spanish authorities 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. Tifariti never had many fixed structures, due to the pastoral lifestyle of the Sahrawis. It is located in a rugged desert area, with little vegetation.
During the Western Sahara War
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.
The village was briefly occupied by the Moroccan Army in February 1976, but 2 months later it retreated, being reoccupied by the SPLA in March 1977.
In the summer of 1977, Moroccan troops controlled the town once more, 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,
During the 1980s, the Moroccan Wall was constructed north of Tifariti, and the terrain around the town was heavily mined. The risk was 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.
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.
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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.
A United Nations airstrip and a base for the MINURSO's peace keeping forces is situated close to Tifariti.
In April 1999, the Navarra Hospital was inaugurated. It was built up with the collaboration of solidarity associations from that Spanish autonomous community. In January 2001, the patients and equipment of the hospital were evacuated, because of the threat of a restarting of the war. Finally, in February 2006, the hospital was re-opened.
On 21 May 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 district.
On 27 February 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. On December 21, 2007, Abdelaziz inaugurated a mosque, in the framework of reconstruction and settlement of the Free Zone.
On 29 February 2008, Abdelaziz launched the works of the building of the Mayoralty of Tifariti, a small dam to provide the local population with water and the cornerstone of a sports complex, funded by South Africa.
On 20 July 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. On 30 October 2009, Abdelkader Taleb Omar (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. 28 October 2009.
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.
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%), although he proposed to regulate alternation in the leadership of the Polisario Front. Also, the members of the National Secretariat were elected.
Between 2010 and 2012, Larabas Said Jumani (a former minister of the SADR) was the first mayor of Tifariti. He was replaced in 2012 by Mohammed Salem Dayah.
Culture
In February 2009, the town hosted the "International Conference on Urbanization and Reconstruction of Liberated Areas". 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".
Festivals
Since 2007, Tifariti has been the scenery 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.
In 2012, ARTifariti moved its activities to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.
Archaeological park
Approximately 30 km (20 mi) to the northeast of Tifariti is the Erqueyez Archaeological Park. This archaeological site, without precedents in this area, provides an interesting lithic manufacturing works from the Late Paleolithic or Epipaleolithic, mound graves, and more than a hundred caves with rock paintings.
University of Tifariti
On 9 February 2013, Sahara Press Service announced that Mohamed Abdelaziz had released on 23 December 2012 a presidential decree establishing the first Sahrawi university, named "University of Tifariti". The President of the SADR also appointed Khatari Ahmudi Abdallahi as the head of the new educational institution.
Sports
Since 2009, Tifariti is the finish line of the "Sahara Bike Race", a 300 km (190 mi) route in parallel with the Moroccan Wall, that starts in the Wilaya of El Aaiún, in the Sahrawi refugee camps.
Since 2014 an amateur radio club has been located at Tifariti. Using the unofficial call sign S01WS the station is active. Without taking a position on the political situation, Western Sahara is accepted by the American Radio Relay League as an "entity" for Amateur radio operating awards.
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
Tifariti is twinned with:
- Agliana, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy (since 20 April 1994)
- Aldaia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (since 24 February 2004)
- Artea, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Arusha, Arusha Region, Tanzania (since 21 December 2009)
- Balmaseda, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Bedia, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Campomarino, Campobasso, Molise, Italy (since 29 November 2005)
- Carmona, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain (since 30 October 2009)
- Caroní, Bolívar, Venezuela (since 25 July 2011)
- Dima, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Guédiawaye, Guédiawaye Department, Dakar Region, Senegal (since 21 December 2009)
- Igorre, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Istán, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain (since 15 October 2009)
- Las Gabias, Granada, Andalucía, Spain
- Libertador, Capital District, Venezuela (since 27 November 2005)
- Loro Ciuffenna, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
- Los Palacios y Villafranca, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain (since 5 August 1998)
- Mascara, Mascara Province, Algeria (since 9 June 2008)
- Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania (since 21 December 2009)
- Mondragón, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
- Mwanza, Mwanza Region, Tanzania (since 21 December 2009)
- Pontassieve, Florence, Tuscany, Italy (since 1987)
- Reggiolo, Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (since 8 February 2014)
- Sevilla, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain
- Signa, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
- Sumbawanga, Rukwa Region, Tanzania (since 21 December 2009)
- Tanga, Tanga Region, Tanzania (since 21 December 2009)
- Timbuktu, Tombouctou Region, Mali (since 21 December 2009)
- Trucios-Turtzioz, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
- Venta de Baños, Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain (since 10 December 2009)
- Vicchio, Florence, Tuscany, Italy