Western Sahara UK /ˈwɛstən səˈhɑːɹə/US /ˈwɛstɚn səˈhɛəɹə/ noun1 •A territory and former Spanish colony in North Africa; about 70% is occupied by Morocco, which claims ownership over the territory as its Southern Provinces, while 30% is governed by its native inhabitants as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.