Situated in a mountainous region of North Africa, Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with a history dating back to Ancient Egypt. In more recent times, the country was a protectorate of France and Spain, until gaining independence in 1956. Since then, one of its most well-known conflicts is over control of Western Sahara (which continues to this day). While Morocco has experienced significant social and economic progress, challenges still remain in the form of high illiteracy rates (one quarter of the population) and wealth disparity, as well as threats from disenfranchised youth and religious extremism.