In its report on press freedoms in Western Sahara, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sheds light on a territory cut off from the rest of the world, a veritable news black hole that has become a no-go zone for journalists. “Western Sahara, a desert for journalists,” is the first-ever work of research...
Moroccan police have once again violated international law and breached their obligations under international treaties. A video published on social media shows 16 police officers approaching a civilian vehicle in 4 vehicles and detaining the 3 Saharawi citizens inside by force. Without any words bring exchanged, the police officers started...
On 26th May 2019, Moroccan police forces arrested 14-year-old Saharawi Ambarak Mohamed Bani near Morabitine School on Smara street in occupied el Aaiun, according to the boy's family. They took him to the police station where Ambarak was tortured, causing injuries and bruises, and threatened with more violence. Photos and...
For the attention of: Sir Adrian White, Chief Executive and Chairman, BiwaterBiwater House Station Approach Dorking RH4 1TZ London, 14 May 2019 Re: Biwater’s presence in Western Sahara Dear Sir Adrian, I am writing on behalf of Adala UK, a British NGO focused on documenting human rights violations in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, with regard to Biwater’s activities there. We became aware of...
By: Amb. Malainin Lakhal* The Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara remains the last case of decolonization in Africa. The Moroccan military invaded the territory on the 31st of October 1975 despite a clear ruling issued by the International Court of Justice a few days before, on the 16th of October...
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, will convene delegations from Morocco, the Frente POLISARIO, Algeria and Mauritania in a second roundtable meeting on Western Sahara on 21 and 22 March 2019 in Switzerland. The meeting will take place in accordance with UN Security Council...
As outlined in a number of laws and international rules, once a person is detained it becomes the responsibility of the authorities to protect the prisoner's health. The Moroccan authorities must immediately and without condition transfer the political prisoner Mohamed Tahlil to hospital given that his health has deteriorated. The...
Johannesburg, South Africa (ADV) – South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will next week on Tuesday, brief members of the media on the state of readiness for the SADC Solidarity Conference with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic / Western Sahara. Early this month, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced that South Africa...
Western Saharawi freedom fighters have called on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to urge New Zealand fertiliser companies to stop importing phosphate from the Western Sahara. The territory where the phosphate comes from is in dispute, with the Western Saharawis battling for an independent state. Morocco annexed the region in 1975 after Spain withdrew...
Three-hundred-and-ninety-two runners from 20 countries have tested themselves in as hard a challenge as is imaginable by running through the desert in the 19th edition of the Sahara Marathon, which was held in the Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria. Swedish participant John Jonatan Fahlencame out on top of the...