.png)
February 2025
The Moroccan states record on Human Rights
We often talk of the awful human rights violations committed upon the Saharawi by the Moroccan state and its lackies. However this is also true of any Moroccans who dare to speak out or protest. Our human right to protest and our enjoyment of freedom of speech are often taken for granted here in the Western Hemisphere. These rights are not enjoyed by the Saharawi or the Moroccan people living under King Mohammed VI. Human Rights Watch have recently published their review of 2024, included in this is a report on Morocco and Western Sahara, the full report can be found here.
The report talks of how Moroccan citizens are denied their rights to speech and assembly, the report draws on the experience of the Hirak Rif Movement, members of whom have been unjustly sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for protesting living conditions. In a separate incident a journalist Hamid Mahdaoui was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for baseless claims of defamation against the justice minister, in short he criticised him. If this is the experience of Moroccan citizens, then the plight of the Saharawi and the conditions they face cannot be ignored, as their experiences are more prevalent and harsher, many members of the Gdeim Izik protest camp are still being illegally imprisoned after facing corrupt trials and made up charges 15 years later.
The King of Morocco has recently been on a campaign of publicity, ramping up efforts of greenwashing in the occupied territories to appeal to the West and to be hailed as a hero in Northern Africa, and now to commemorate 25 years of his reign he is pardoning 2,500 detainees to improve his popularity. However we do not believe any of those being released will be Saharawi prisoners.
How can the West criticise Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Iran, Afghanistan and many more for human rights violations and then cuddle up to identical oppressors in Morocco. Why? For money and a stable ally in the region. The plight of the Saharawi cannot be left under the dust in pursuit of cold war loyalties and aims, their self determination is their human right, and this occupation as has been proved many times is illegal, no ifs or buts.
The Saharawi Press Service (SPRASD) have also written an interesting piece on this which can be found here.
The continuation of the armed conflict
The Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have been having some successes in their recent resumption of their conflict with the Moroccan state. SPRASD have reported on how the SPLA have targeted with success multiple Moroccan military positions, including in Rous Audiyat in the occupied Farsia sector and Lamkitib in the Houza sector.
They have again proved themselves as a state with the ability to defend itself. Their plight they have made clear has never been with the Moroccan people and only the Moroccan occupation, not targeting journalists, civilians and civilian infrastructure. Only targeting military targets, the same can not be said of the Moroccan armed forces.
Global Aktion targeted in Denmark
We often talk of the plight the Saharawi face in occupied Western Sahara, however the long arm of the Moroccan state does sadly reach further. On January 13th the charity Global Aktion had its offices in Copenhagen, Denmark set on fire and attacked. Graffiti was left at the scene making the reasoning clear. The graffiti included: The Sahara belongs to Morocco and F*ck Polisario.
Global Aktion have recently done work on the human rights violations inflicted by the Moroccan State and their illegal occupation of Western Sahara. With the graffiti as well it does not take a scientist to add one and one together. The only suspects at the minute is a 19 yr old British man and a non confirmed other suspect, however the Moroccan state are almost definitely complicit in this. They are no strangers to espionage on foreign soil.
The Saharawi Natural Resources watch (OSRN), were quick with their damnation of this attack and their support for Global Aktion in the trying time, the newly appointed general coordinator Ms Yaguta El-Mokhtar denounced the vicious attack as "a reprehensible act of aggression, marked by arson and hateful graffiti, constituting a flagrant violation of the principles of justice and international solidarity. This deliberate attack on civil society is a clear attempt to intimidate and silence those advocating for the Sahrawi people's rights."
Donald Trumps return to power
Much of the world took a deep breath on Sunday 19th January when Donald Trump again became President of the United States. Many will remember it was President Trump who changed the United States historical position on Western Sahara and recognised the Moroccan occupation. His return to the whitehouse will only embolden the Moroccan occupation, as the King of Morocco has ensured a close relationship with the President.
Trump’s next move is as expected unknown. He is a character who always shocks, with the situation in Palestine and Israel on a knife's edge and a very weak ceasefire having been agreed, the political situation globally is not in a good state. And this will likely continue to avert eyes away from Africa’s last colony.
We as a collective need to ensure that we keep pressure on Keir Starmer's government to not follow France and America in recognition of the occupation, we must hold our Labour government to account and ensure they treat international issues with the same moral standing that Jeremy Corbyn advocated for. We cannot allow Donald Trump to pressurize the UK into another dodgy foreign policy.
European Union Aviation Agreement
The European Union has this month reaffirmed that it considers Western Sahara as a separate entity to Morocco. The newly signed aviation agreement titled the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement does not extend into occupied Western Sahara and only covers actual Morocco. Although the European Union has previously tried to sign agreements with Morocco including Western Sahara, it is clear from this that the EU does recognise its hands are tied by the judicial rulings from previous years. Most notably the fisheries agreement which was deemed illegal by ECJ as it included Western Saharan goods without the proper consent of the representatives of the Saharawi, the Polisario Front.
This was reaffirmed by the EU when Irish MEP Lynn Boylan tabled a question. The response was that no the agreement cannot extend to Western Sahara, and cannot include any flight paths from any EU member states to Western Sahara. This news was well received by all concerned by the plight of the Saharawi.
This is especially relevant given Ryannairs recent decision to start flights into occupied Dakhla, further aiding the Moroccan regime's attempt to attract tourists to the brutal occupation under the guise of a tropical getaway. Please keep an eye out for an email from us asking supporters to pressure Ryannair to reverse this decision, which takes not into account any issues of human rights, but cares only for greed, profit and the silence of those brave enough to speak out.
Greta Thunberg speaks out for the Saharawi
Greta Thunberg the renowned climate activist has once again thrown her weight behind the cause of the ignored. She recently visited the refugee camps in Tindouf Algeria, in attendance at the recent International Solidarity conference. She spoke of the struggle of the Saharawi, their voicelessness on the international stage and the worlds complicity in the occupation. Greta made many comparisons with the plight of the Palestinians, her input may also help to hinder the Moroccan regimes attempt at greenwashing their occupation.
As we have spoken of before, Morocco is on a huge campaign to greenwash its occupation, with the construction of renewable energy projects in occupied Western Sahara, in a blazen attempt to silence the voice of the Saharawi, and further international support for the occupation. By becoming a model of renewable energy, the King of Morocco hopes his support of renewable energy will outshout the cries of the Saharawi.
Greta spoke of how it is a responsibility of all of us to call out this occupation, not to buy into this greenwashing and to not allow silence to continue. She spoke strongly against international media outlets who for too long have refused to report on Africa’s last colony, stating silence is complicity.
Comments