Category Archives: Political issues

40 years of hurt: The never-ending scandal of the Western Sahara

Richard Dowden
The Royal African Society, Britain’s prime Africa organisation. Friday, 6 November 2015
Forty years ago today (6 November), Morocco invaded Western Sahara, a former Spanish colonial possession – mostly made up of desert – in West Africa.
As Spain walked away, Morocco claimed the territory as part of its ancient empire. The UN had declared that it was up to the people of the territory to decide their own future,(…cont)

Article >>

Africa is not yet free

Thinker_66_cover

Thinker_66_cover

Western Sahara – Africa ’s Last colony
Malainin Lakhal
The Thinker, Vol 66, 2015
In 1963, the United Nations (UN) included Western Sahara in the list of countries to be decolonized and asserted the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. In 1966 the UN, for the first time, passed a resolution calling for this self-determination to be exercised by referendum. On 31 October 1975, Morocco and Mauritania invaded Western Sahara as Spain (the former colonial power) looked on. (cont.)

Malainin Lakhal’s article >>

Urgent appeal to assist flood relief efforts in Saharawi refugee camps

Western-Sahara-2-800x350Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA) Media Release
27 October 2015
Appeal to assist flood relief efforts in Saharawi refugee camps

The Australia Western Sahara Association is appealing for funds to assist relief work in the Western Sahara refugee camps where week-long torrential rains have devastated homes, hospitals and schools and destroyed food stores.
‘Never before have the Saharawi refugee camps been hit by a natural disaster of this magnitude,’ said Kamal Fadel, representative of Western Sahara in Australia.

AWSA media release >>

Tax deductible donations can be made online at APHEDA >>
At APHEDA webpage select C. One Off Donations and then select ‘Western Sahara’ from drop down list)
or call APHEDA on 1800 888 674

Refugee camps: Torrential Rain causes widespread damage to buildings, homes and food stores

Floods leave considerable damage in the wilaya of Dajla
Tuesday 20 October 2015

Dajla (Saharawi refugee camps) -The wilaya of Dajla, in the Saharawi refugee camps, was hit by heavy rains since Monday, leaving considerable damage and “heavy floods have destroyed several public buildings and community centers, and have destroyed several homes of refugees, no victims are reported so far.”

Article >>

WSRW 20/10/2015 – UK Court refers Western Sahara imports case to EU Court

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Western Sahara Resource Watch, 20 October 2015

In refering the case on the questionable legality of UK imports from Western Saharan products to the European Court of Justice, the UK Judge stated that “there is an arguable case of a manifest error by the [European] Commission in understanding and applying international law relevant to these agreements.”

Western Sahara Resource Watch article >>

Morocco “denounces and rejects” UN recommendations

Western Sahara Resource Watch, 16 October 2015

Morocco reacts furiously to a UN Treaty Body recommending the country to respect the Saharawi people’s rights to self-determination and natural resources.

Earlier this week, the UN Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had published its conclusions after having reviewed Morocco’s compliance with those rights.

WSRW report >>

Irish company San Leon Energy has discovered gas in the disputed territory of the Western Sahara

October 2015

Irish company San Leon Energy has discovered gas in the disputed territory of the Western Sahara, violating international legal principles. The Western Sahara is the subject of a decades-long dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. RFI’s Daniel Finnan has more…

Listen to Daniel Finnan’s report >>

Students Protests for Western Sahara Independence Draw Crackdowns

Sahrawi with flag. Credit: Creative Commons

Sahrawi with flag. Credit: Creative Commons

Al Fanar News and Opinion about Arabic Higher Education
Brennan Weiss / 06 Oct 2015

AGADIR, Morocco–In a small, dilapidated apartment in Agadir, in southern Morocco, student activists are meeting in secret. In defiance of the country’s authorities, they are planning protests for the independence of a disputed territory claimed by Morocco that is commonly called the Western Sahara.(cont.)

Al Fanar News and Opinion article>>