July 10, 2025

On 1 June, Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, formally questioned the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs regarding the UK government’s approach to upcoming trade agreements affecting Western Sahara. Specifically, she asked if the government intended to hold meaningful discussions with the Polisario Front, the internationally recognized representative of the Sahrawi people, to ensure their rights and interests are fully respected.

In response, Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), stated that UK trade agreements are negotiated with sovereign states and in full accordance with international law. He emphasized that the UK-Morocco Association Agreement is applied consistent with the UK’s official position on Western Sahara. Falconer further noted that senior UK officials regularly engage with Sahrawi representatives to discuss UK policy on Western Sahara, including matters relating to trade.

Adala UK’s Position: Upholding International Law and Human Rights

Adala UK reiterates that the exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara, without the free, prior, and informed consent of the Sahrawi people, constitutes a clear breach of international law, including principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. This exploitation violates the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, a core principle recognized by the UN and binding upon all member states, including the United Kingdom.

The European Court of Justice has firmly ruled that any commercial or trade agreement that includes the territory of Western Sahara without the consent of its people is unlawful. This judgment reflects the binding nature of international legal protections for non-self-governing territories and affirms that sovereignty over resources cannot be exercised by an occupying power in violation of the occupied population’s rights.

Critical Analysis of the UK Government’s Endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal

While the UK government’s engagement with Sahrawi representatives is a positive step, Adala UK expresses grave concern regarding the endorsement by the UK Foreign Secretary of Morocco’s autonomy proposal on 1 June as “the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict.” This endorsement runs counter to the Sahrawi people’s fundamental right to self-determination as articulated in the UN Charter, Article 1(2), which mandates respect for the principle of peoples freely determining their political status.

Adala UK warns that framing Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most viable solution undermines the legal and moral obligations of the UK as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a champion of human rights. It reduces a complex conflict to a political convenience that prioritizes economic and diplomatic interests over justice and international legal obligations.

Commendation for Support of the UN-led Peace Process

Adala UK acknowledges and appreciates the UK government’s stated commitment to “continue supporting the UN-led process to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination.” This approach is consistent with the UK’s international legal obligations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 21, which guarantees the right of peoples to participate in decisions affecting their political future.

This commitment must not be mere rhetoric but must translate into concrete policies that respect Sahrawi sovereignty, including unequivocal opposition to any exploitation of their natural resources without their consent.

Urgent Call to the UK Government: Use Clear Legal Language, Not Commercial Rhetoric

Adala UK urgently calls upon the UK government to adopt a clear, legally sound, and human rights–based approach in all statements and negotiations related to Western Sahara. This includes explicitly rejecting any form of economic exploitation or trade agreements that include Sahrawi resources without the legitimate consent of the Sahrawi people and their representatives.

The language employed by government officials must avoid commercial and pragmatic euphemisms that diminish the Sahrawi people’s rights in favor of short-term economic interests. Instead, the UK should assert its adherence to international law and the UN Charter principles as the foundation for its policies, reflecting its role as a global advocate for human rights, peace, and justice.

Human Rights Realities in Western Sahara: Poverty, Marginalization, and Youth Protests

Beyond legal and diplomatic discussions, the human rights situation on the ground in Western Sahara remains deeply troubling. Adala UK continues to document widespread and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against the Sahrawi population, especially the most vulnerable groups such as unemployed youth.

The prolonged Moroccan occupation has resulted in severe economic marginalization and pervasive poverty among Sahrawis in the occupied territories. The lack of access to decent employment, adequate healthcare, education, and social services compounds the hardship faced daily by thousands of Sahrawi families.

Unemployed Sahrawi youth have increasingly taken to peaceful demonstrations in cities such as El Aaiún, Smara, and Dakhla, demanding their basic rights, including jobs, political freedoms, and an end to repression. These protests are often met with disproportionate and violent responses by Moroccan security forces, including arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force, intimidation, and torture, all of which violate international human rights standards, including the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment.

The targeting of youth activists highlights the intersection of economic injustice and political repression, undermining any prospects for peace unless the underlying issues of self-determination, dignity, and justice are addressed.

Conclusion

Adala UK calls on the UK government to fully align its policy and practice with the imperatives of international law, the UN Charter, and universally recognized human rights standards. This includes:

Explicitly rejecting any exploitation of Sahrawi natural resources without the free, prior, and informed consent of the Sahrawi people.
Using clear, legally precise language that supports the Sahrawi right to self-determination and sovereignty.
Actively supporting the UN-led process to find a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution based on respect for international law.
Condemning and addressing human rights violations, poverty, and marginalization affecting Sahrawi civilians, particularly vulnerable youth.
Only by adhering to these principles can the UK fulfill its international legal and moral responsibilities, promote peace and stability in the region, and stand firmly on the side of justice for the Sahrawi people.

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