The Western Sahara Authority (WSA) is a theoretical governing body for the territory of Western Sahara. Under James Baker III's Settlement Plan, the WSA would dismantle the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an aspirant sovereign entity over the region, and replace it with an autonomous body under Moroccan sovereignty during a five-year transitional period. After this time, the Saharan population would hold a referendum on independence: if they voted in favor, the WSA would be dismantled, and the SADR would take its place as an internationally-recognized sovereign entitty. If they voted for integration, either the WSA would continue to administer the territory, or it would be fully integrated into the other Moroccan provinces. The WSA has never been instituted, due to concerns from the Polisario, and the stagnation of the referendum process administered by MINURSO.
