A Sahrawi Association Alerts UN Envoy to Moroccan Occupation’s Violations and Pillaging of Natural Wealth
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- The Western Sahara Wealth Monitoring and Environmental Protection Association has brought to the attention of the United Nations (UN) a series of violations and extensive natural wealth pillaging by the Moroccan occupation in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, was briefed on these grave concerns during his recent visit to the occupied territories.
Members of the association’s executive office met with Mr. de Mistura during his visit to the occupied cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, conveying their deep concerns and presenting a detailed report on the matter. The association’s statement, issued on Saturday, outlined the urgent issues faced by the Sahrawi people.
In Laayoune, the association provided a comprehensive report, replete with figures and statistics, illustrating the relentless plundering of Western Sahara’s natural resources by the Moroccan state. These actions starkly contravene international court decisions, including those by the European Court, which unequivocally affirm the Sahrawi people’s rightful ownership of these resources, with the Polisario Front as their legitimate political and legal representative.
Lahcen Dalil, a member of the association, drew attention to the perceived inaction and laxity of the UN in fulfilling its role, particularly concerning the establishment of the UN Mission for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The association’s members also decried the deteriorating human rights situation in the region, which has worsened since the resumption of armed conflict on November 13, 2020. Sahrawi citizens and human rights activists faced adversity during their peaceful sit-in alongside Mr. de Mistura’s visit, compounded by the security and military blockade imposed on Western Sahara towns since his announcement.
In Dakhla, Mohamed Salem Fahim met with Mr. de Mistura to discuss the dire socio-economic situation plaguing the Sahrawi people. This dire situation has led to a significant exodus of young Sahrawis toward the El-Guerguerate buffer zone, which has itself been subjected to a military and security blockade, aimed at preventing further movement towards the State of Mauritania, according to the association’s press release.
The Western Sahara Wealth Monitoring and Environmental Protection Association’s efforts to highlight these critical issues are part of a broader call for international attention and action to address the ongoing violations and exploitation of the Sahrawi people and their natural wealth by the Moroccan occupation. As the world watches, the fate of Western Sahara remains in the balance, with the hopes of its people pinned on international intervention and justice.
