Yearly Archives: 2023

Article: Why the U.S. Should Embrace Neutrality in Western Sahara

Why a US reversion towards supporting MINURSO could bring liberation and rehabilitation to Western Sahara.

“The Biden administration would be wise to absorb the lessons from Gaza and Ukraine, recognizing that ‘frozen’ conflicts don’t stay frozen forever. A bold and proactive American approach could forestall the onset of another significant conflict. Given the opportunity, the people of Western Sahara might finally complete their protracted march toward peace and autonomy—a journey they embarked upon far too many years ago”

See below:

Why the U.S. Should Embrace Neutrality in Western Sahara

Article: “King of Morocco’s new energy ploy amounts to greenwashing thuggery”

Below explores King Mohammed VI’s insistent attempts to legalise exports of Western Saharan fish supplies, as well as allow for oil and gas exploration projects in the occupied territory.

“This king assumes eventually, everyone will forget about the sovereign rights of the victims of thuggery. That should never be allowed to happen.”

By David Keene.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/27/king-of-moroccos-new-energy-ploy-amounts-to-greenw/

MOROCCO EXPOSED: POLITICO article lays bare the Kingdom’s bribery of EU officials

“The probe that would become Qatargate began after Belgium was tipped off by “a trusted European intelligence service” that two Italian members of the European Parliament had been bribed by Moroccan spies to “promote the Kingdom’s interests” in the chamber, according to the first Belgian secret services report of the investigation, obtained by POLITICO. “

Read on in the article attached. Written by Elisa Braun and Barbara Moens.

https://www.politico.eu/article/morocco-corrupt-european-parliament-union-qatargate-bribery-scandal-eu/

Press release on arbitrary Moroccan detention of Saharawi Gdeim Izik activists

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed the imprisonment of 24 Sahrawi activists at Gdeim Izik in 2010 as illegal, urging the Rabat to immediately release the group.

The body also urged the Kingdom to ensure reparations, an investigation into the arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and to take actions against those responsible.

Full press release from the League for the Protection of Saharawi Political Prisoners held within Moroccan jails (LPPS) can be found below.

-Press-Release-Gdeim-Izik-UN-WGADDownload

Moroccogate: Corruption And Blood Renewables In The Western Sahara (Forbes article)

Written by global energy and sustainability writer Elias Ferrer Breda, the following is an enlightening article covering Moroccan attempts to expand its energy projects in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.

“Saharawi men hold up a Polisario Front flag in the Al-Mahbes area near Moroccan soldiers guarding the wall separating the Polisario controlled Western Sahara from Morocco on February 3, 2017.” AFP via Getty Images.

Article below:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliasferrerbreda/2023/11/26/moroccogate-corruption-and-blood-renewables-in-the-western-sahara/?sh=287ca97543ea

SAHARWIVOICE: Western Sahara Uncovered

Below is a great introduction to a short series of videos covering the history and illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

“Saharawi Voice is a blog designed to let people know what happened in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, why half of the population lives in refugee campos in southern Algeria and who are the Saharawi people.”

Watch and consider subscribing to this excellent resource.

from:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=nkP5qEiBPWc8aPzj&v=RUnTZdakKLw&feature=youtu.be

Motion supporting Western Sahara passed without debate at ALP National Conference

The Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) is delighted that the Australian Labor
Party (ALP) expressed support for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, at its National Conference in Brisbane on 17-19 August 2023.

The motion adopted at the recent ALP Conference reads: 
“Labor strongly supports the United Nations in its efforts to enable the people of Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the 1990 Settlement Plan and supports the organisation without delay of the promised UN referendum of self-determination. In pursuit of individual freedom and human rights, Labor supports the United Nations mandating its mission MINURSO to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the Territory.”

See attached proposed resolution and media release below.

Proposed Resolution 130R, Chapter 7: “Labor strongly supports the United Nations in its efforts to enable the people of Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination”, passed

AWSA-MR-ALP-Conferemce-Resolution-2Download

Moroccan officials intimidate AWSA members at African unity event

In Canberra on Thursday, May 25th, three AWSA members and Western Sahara representative to Australia Kamal Fadel were intimidated by Moroccan embassy staff. Kamal Fadel was directly blocked whilst attempting to enter Albert Hall, for an event commemorating the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union).

They were officially invited to this event, and had every intention of peacefully attending it. With the help of ambassadors accredited to Australia, all four were safely escorted inside.

Members attempting to enter Albert Hall (supplied)
Founders of the OAU in 1963. (South African History Online)

The Saharawi struggle for independence against the Moroccan regime is a Pan-Africanist struggle. It is clear that neocolonial occupiers of Western Sahara do not value this principle.

Article from the Guardian (written by Ben Doherty), below:

theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/31/moroccan-officials-accused-of-intimidation-after-fracas-at-african-unity-event-in-canberra

University of Sydney Forum

Two student societies from the University of Sydney have organised a forum on “The Struggle for National Liberation in Western Sahara”, in collaboration with AWSA. The Political Economy Society (EcopSoc) and the Autonomous Collective Against Racism (ACAR) will host Polisario representative Kamal Fadel and Dr Randi Irwin of the University of Newcastle on Thursday, May 18th at 18:00.

All members are encouraged to attend this event. Kamal and Randi will discuss the colonial history of the region, its current impacts on Australian affairs, strategies for decolonisation and more. It appropriately falls between the 50th anniversary of both the founding of the Polisario Front and commencement of the armed struggle at El-Khanga.

A Q&A session will follow, as well as a chance to discuss all matters Western Sahara at Hermann’s bar thereafter! The Forum will take place on Gadigal Land, in the Quad Refectory Room H113 (USyd, Camperdown/ Darlington). See event flyer and Facebook page below.

https://fb.me/e/3CaVNNeuS

Western Sahara film database

From https://fisahara.es

Madrid-based NGO Nomads HRC have collated a comprehensive, searchable online database of films on Western Sahara. Contact information and links are provided to films or documentaries that are publicly available. This is an open, collaborative project, so do contact Nomads if you have any queries or notice any errors. See links below.

Nomads Films catalogue

Contact Nomads HRC