Bir Lehlou

Bir Lehlou is an oasis town in north-eastern Western Sahara, located near the Mauritanian border and east of the border wall in Polisario Front-held territory. It serves as the head of the 5th military region of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and was the temporary capital of SADR until Tifariti became the capital in 2008. The town has a pharmacy, a school, and a mosque. Its name, meaning "sweet water well" in Maghrebi Arabic, reflects its origins as a source of fresh water.

Historically, Bir Lehlou was significant as the temporary capital where SADR's existence was proclaimed on February 27, 1976, by its first president, El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed. The town hosted national and international events, including the 34th anniversary of SADR in 2010 and the 36th National Unity Day celebrations in 2011, during which a mosque and an extension of the town's school were inaugurated.

Bir Lehlou also has a connection to climate change studies. A 2019 paper projected that under a moderate warming scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5), Bir Lehlou's climate by 2050 would resemble Kuwait's current climate, with significant temperature increases.

The town is twinned with another city, though no specific details were provided. Notable figures associated with Bir Lehlou include El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed, a key Sahrawi nationalist leader and the first President of SADR.