Basque Country Backs Western Sahara: A Resounding Call for Sahrawi Self-Determination

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | October 13th, 2024 — As global support for the Sahrawi cause continues to grow, the Basque political establishment has affirmed its unwavering solidarity with the people of Western Sahara, highlighting the deep historical connections between the two regions and their mutual commitment to autonomy and human rights.

In recent times, the Sahrawi issue has garnered unprecedented attention on the global stage, despite the Moroccan Makhzen regime’s ongoing efforts to propagate misleading narratives, attempting to present “Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara as a settled matter. These claims, however, are increasingly met with skepticism, as more nations and regions rally in support of the Sahrawi people’s legitimate quest for self-determination.

One of the most vocal supporters in this movement is the Basque Country. In Bilbao, Spain, Basque political leaders gathered at the 3rd edition of the International Youth Forum for Solidarity with Western Sahara to reaffirm their steadfast backing of the Sahrawi struggle. Nerea Melgosa, the Basque government’s Minister of Welfare, Youth, and Demographic Challenge, emphasized that the Basque people have maintained a long-standing commitment to defending the Sahrawi cause, rooted in the protection of human rights.

Melgosa drew attention to the similarities between the Basque and Sahrawi peoples, both of whom place the right to self-determination at the heart of their identity. She explained that the Basque commitment to the Sahrawi struggle is not just a political position, but a shared experience of fighting for autonomy and freedom. In particular, she praised the role of Sahrawi youth and women in resisting occupation, noting that Sahrawi women serve as exemplary figures in the fight for a just world, and that youth involvement is essential in sustaining the spirit of resistance, especially within refugee camps.

Iratxe Uriarte, President of the Basque Youth Council, echoed these sentiments, reaffirming the deep connection between the two peoples. She condemned all forms of human rights violations and emphasized that, as a region that has experienced its own struggle against dictatorship, the Basque people are committed to peace, justice, and the defense of human rights. Uriarte’s comments further underscored the solidarity between the Basque and Sahrawi peoples, united in their pursuit of justice.

Meanwhile, Abdellah Arabi, the Polisario Front’s representative in Spain, highlighted the significance of the forum’s international participation, noting that the presence of youth from around the world signifies the growing wave of global solidarity with the Sahrawi cause. He stressed that the forum takes place at a pivotal moment in the Sahrawi people’s ongoing fight for freedom, particularly in light of recent legal victories.

A landmark ruling by the European Union’s Court of Justice (ECJ) on October 4 annulled the illegal extension of trade agreements between the EU and Morocco to include Western Sahara. The ECJ determined that the 2019 EU-Morocco agreements on fisheries and agricultural products, which were implemented without the consent of the Sahrawi people, violated the principles of self-determination and the relative effect of treaties. Arabi hailed this decision as a major victory for the Sahrawi people, reaffirming that their struggle is fundamentally a decolonization issue. He reiterated that the Sahrawi people must be allowed to decide their own future through a self-determination referendum, in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

This legal triumph comes at a critical time, as the Moroccan Makhzen regime continues to aggressively push its narrative of sovereignty over Western Sahara. Nevertheless, the ECJ’s ruling demonstrates the growing recognition within the international community of the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their own destiny, countering Morocco’s attempts to obscure the issue. This victory, alongside the ever-strengthening international solidarity, signals a shift in the tide in favor of the Sahrawi cause, as they continue their fight for independence and justice.

 

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