All discussion of Western Sahara is unavoidably and heatedly political. Here's why: West'ern Sahar'a n. 1. a region in NW Africa on the Atlantic coast, bounded by Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania: a former Spanish province comprising Río de Oro and Saguia el Hamra 1884-1976; divided between Morocco and Mauritania 1976; claimed entirely by Morocco 1979, but still under dispute. 180, 000; ab. 102, 700 sq. mi. (266, 000 sq. km). Formerly, Spanish Sahara.