Tifariti is an oasis town located in north-eastern Western Sahara. It is situated approximately 138 km (86 mi) east of Smara and 15 km (9 mi) north of the border with Mauritania, positioned to the east of the Moroccan Berm.
The town serves as the temporary capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a role it assumed in 2008 when the government relocated from Bir Lehlou. It also functions as the headquarters for the SADR's 2nd military region. Geographically, the area is referred to as the Liberated Territories by the Polisario Front and as the Buffer Zone by Morocco.