Laayoune

Also known as Laâyoune, El Aiún, El Aaiún, El Aaiun, El Aiun

Laayoune or El Aaiún (, , , ) is the largest city of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, with a population of 271,344 in 2023. The city is the de jure capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, though it is under de facto Moroccan administration as occupied territory. The modern city is thought to have been founded by the Spanish captain Antonio de Oro in 1938. From 1958, it became the administrative capital of the Spanish Sahara, administered by the Governor General of Spanish West Africa.

AI overview

Laayoune is the largest city in Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic but currently administered by Morocco. The city serves as the nominal capital of the Sahrawi Republic, though its actual governance and administration remain under Moroccan control.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Settlement.official_name: Laayoune
Settlement.settlement_type: City
Settlement.image_skyline: El Aaiún-Laâyoune Collage.png
Settlement.image_caption: Left to right, top to bottom: Footprints on the sand, Place Mechouar, Street, Monumental Arch, Laayoune Cathedral
Settlement.pushpin_map: Western Sahara#Africa
Settlement.pushpin_label_position: bottom
Settlement.pushpin_map_caption: Location in Western Sahara
Settlement.pushpin_relief: yes
Settlement.subdivision_type: Non-self-governing territory
Settlement.subdivision_name: Western Sahara
Settlement.subdivision_type1: Claimed by
Settlement.subdivision_type2: Controlled by
Settlement.subdivision_type4: Region
Settlement.subdivision_name4: Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra
Settlement.subdivision_type5: Province
Settlement.subdivision_name5: Laâyoune
Settlement.established_title: Settled
Settlement.established_date: 1934

via Wikipedia infobox

~5 min read

Encyclopedic overview

13 sections

Contents

History
Climate
Climate change
Demographics
Economy and status
Sport
Transport
Education
Diplomatic missions
Gallery
See also
References
External links

In 2023, Laayoune is the capital of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region administered by Morocco, it is still under the supervision of MINURSO, a UN mission.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Laayoune” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.