The Maghreb (المغرب العربي ; also rendered
Maghrib (or rarely Moghreb), meaning "place of
sunset" or "
western" in
Arabic. It is generally applied to all of
Morocco,
Algeria, and
Tunisia but in older Arabic usage pertained only to the area of the three countries between the high ranges of the
Atlas Mountains and the
Mediterranean Sea. Historically some writers also included
Spain — especially during its period of
Muslim domination — in the definition. Partially isolated from the rest of the continent by the Atlas Mts. and the
Sahara, the Maghreb has long been closely tied in terms of
climate,
landforms,
population,
economy, and
history to the Mediterranean basin, more so than the rest of
Africa, although it has important historical ties to
sub-Saharan Africa, in terms of populations, commerce and religious influences. The region as a single political entity was united only during the first years of Arab rule (early 8th century), and again under the
Almohads (1159–1229). The
Arab Maghreb Union was established in 1989 to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of
North Africa. Its members are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Libya and
Mauritania. Envisioned initially by
Muammar al-Qaddafi as an Arab superstate, the organization is expected eventually to function as a North African common market, although economic and political unrest, especially in Algeria, have hindered progress on the union’s joint goals.
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