Why This Part of Africa is Erased on Every Map You See

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Select video clips courtesy of Getty Images

Select video clips courtesy of the AP Archive

Special thanks to MapTiler, OpenStreetMap Contributors, and GEOlayers

[azouitinesaad]

saying no data repeatedly gotta be some kind of psychological torture

[HoV]

For a second, I thought this was a prank where the entire 40 minutes would just be dedicated to different maps focusing on different No Data maps on Western Sahara

[FrancescoDondi]

It's weird because I'm 100% sure Morocco reports data including that territory. Even administrative boundaries don't align with that border. It must take a ridiculous amount of effort to get that data excluded.

[Slobrojoe]

Me: Hey RLL, how are you doing today?

RLL: NO DATA NO DATA NO DATA

[UdyKumra]

Take a shot every time RLL says the phrase "no data."

[estkt]

each time he said "blank... WITH NO DATA" i kept thinking it would be the last time he would say it, but nope. he still had 93739 "blank... WITH NO DATA" to go

[kartierglory]

His April fools joke video is gonna be him reading off every map with Western Sahara labeled as "blank with no data"

[swazi]

My comments after they get censored by YT:
Blank with no data

[Mizt_Plays]

15:02 "largest active military zone and longest mine field in the world" rally car just casually passing through

[Matticitt]

Let's be honest. With Morocco now having US support, hundreds of thousands of their own people who settled and lived there for decades and the Sahrawis living in Algeria for decades and an impenetrable minefield separating the two there's exactly zero possibility of this land ever becoming independent.

[yassinbkhou]

2:14 Territory: 80% Morocco/20% buffer, *2700km mined wall* divides

[jonah_sj]

0:20 - 1:15 reallifelore says no data 10 times.

[MrBadLuck]

As someone who lives there, I can confirm that most of the territory is controlled by Morocco.

[reyhaze]

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

YOU MADE YOUR POINT

[BrianBaileyedtech]

I became aware of this dispute way back in 1984 when I backpacked through Morocco including to the far south. When I got near the dividing line my guidebook warned me not to go any further due to the security situation. .

[swazi]

YouTube's reasons for de-monotizing RLL(and others):
Blank with no data

[imperialdragon]

Territory: 80% Morocco/20% buffer, **2700km mined wall** divides.
Value:
- **Huge phosphate deposits**
- **Gas potential**
- **EU energy route**
Risk: **Morocco-Algeria arms race**
- Morocco: **$13.4B (4x↑)**
- Algeria: **$21B (2x↑)**
Status: **Active conflict since 2020**
- Morocco: **US/Israel backing**
- Polisario: **Losing diplomatic ground**
- **Tension escalating**

[laaroussitouile]

Living in that specific place feels amazing, for the first time ever. We made it to Youtube!!

[alleny]

Ah, oil, gas, phosphates… I was wondering why anyone outside would care

[silence]

RealLifeLore's greatest enemy: "NO DATA" Im going to hear that in my sleep now lol.