Adala UK has today sent a formal letter to Airbnb welcoming the platform’s recent correction of geographical references to cities in Western Sahara, which are no longer labelled as part of Morocco. The change, reported by Africa Intelligenceon 31 July 2025, brings Airbnb’s mapping more in line with the position of the United Nations and international legal rulings, which affirm that Western Sahara is a Non-Self-Governing Territory and not part of Morocco.

While this correction is a positive step, Adala UK’s letter expresses continued concern over Airbnb’s ongoing hosting of property listings in the occupied territory. Such listings risk legitimising Morocco’s illegal occupation and contribute to the economic exploitation of a people who have not consented to these activities.

In the letter, Adala UK urges Airbnb to:

• Suspend all listings in Western Sahara;
• Ensure its platform reflects accurate, internationally recognised geography;
• Engage with the Saharawi people’s legitimate representatives;
• Conduct due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

We commend Airbnb’s recent update, but call on the company to go further to ensure full compliance with international law and to avoid complicity in human rights violations in occupied Western Sahara.

You can read the full letter [here].
(Insert hyperlink or downloadable PDF)

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