International Calls Intensify to Halt Exploitation of Sahrawi Natural Resources and End Economic Pillage

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 25th, 2024 — Algeria has amplified its efforts to expose Morocco’s illegal exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources, emphasizing the urgent need to sever the economic lifeline sustaining the colonial occupation. During a training and informational session held in Algiers on Sunday at the National Institute for Comprehensive Strategic Studies (INESG), experts, diplomats, and legal analysts denounced Morocco’s systematic plundering of Sahrawi resources, which serves as a tool of colonial entrenchment and a “diplomatic weapon” in regional geopolitics.

The gathering, organized for members of the Algerian People’s National Assembly (APN), laid bare the mechanisms Morocco employs to undermine the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination. Participants unequivocally rejected Morocco’s claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara, emphasizing the absence of any historical or legal basis for such assertions.

Unyielding Resistance Amid Global Turmoil

In his opening remarks, INESG Director Abdelaziz Medjahed reaffirmed the resilience of oppressed peoples, linking their struggles to broader geopolitical shifts, including the international outrage over Zionist aggression in Gaza. Highlighting Algeria’s pivotal role in defending the causes of Western Sahara and Palestine at the United Nations Security Council, Medjahed noted, “Truth is often the first casualty, followed by justice and the rights of peoples. Yet, history has shown that the resistance and determination of oppressed nations compel imperialist powers to retreat.”

Strengthening International Solidarity

Abdelkader Taleb Omar, Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to Algeria, praised Algeria’s unwavering support for the Sahrawi cause. He announced the forthcoming 48th European Conference of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 28 to 30. This event, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s “Carnation Revolution,” is expected to bolster Portuguese solidarity with the Sahrawi struggle.

Taleb Omar highlighted several key conferences planned during the event, including a trade union summit uniting delegations from Africa, the Sahel, Latin America, and Europe to advocate for a boycott of Moroccan products. Additionally, a meeting of the European Solidarity Movement with the Sahrawi People and a parliamentary session in Lisbon will further mobilize support.

Economic Pillage and Systemic Exploitation

The session shed light on Morocco’s systematic exploitation of Sahrawi resources, with Zbeir Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Petroleum and Mining Authority, presenting a detailed account of the looting. Ghali highlighted Morocco’s unlawful extraction of phosphate—a resource that accounts for over a quarter of global reserves—and the extensive plundering of maritime resources.

“The fishing sector alone generated 133,478 jobs for Moroccans in 2021, compared to 74,000 in 2012, underscoring the scale of exploitation,” Ghali said. He warned that such practices not only deplete Sahrawi wealth but also weaponize it as a means of perpetuating the colonial status quo.

Legal Context and Foreign Complicity

Legal expert Souhila Guemoudi addressed the legal foundations of the Sahrawi people’s rights to self-determination and sovereignty over their resources, describing Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory under Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter. She underscored that the Moroccan occupation, which began with the 1975 “Green March,” is a blatant violation of international law.

Ahmed Mohamed Sidi Ali, Legal Advisor to the SADR President, elaborated on Morocco’s economic colonization strategy, accusing the Makhzen of enlisting foreign corporations in its exploitation schemes. Companies benefiting from illicit resource extraction are offered favorable terms, facilitated by entities like the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) and Attijariwafa Bank—Morocco’s economic and financial arms of exploitation.

Parallels to Palestine

Political analyst Ahmed Adimi drew a powerful parallel between Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara and the Zionist entity’s occupation of Palestine, highlighting shared tactics of colonization, such as land annexation, resource theft, and the marginalization of indigenous populations. “Both cases expose the complicity of global powers in enabling colonial regimes to thrive, leveraging economic interests and veto powers to suppress justice,” Adimi stated.

A Global Call to Action

As Algeria and international allies rally against the exploitation of Sahrawi resources, the focus is on implementing concrete measures to cut off Morocco’s economic grip. Calls for a global boycott of Moroccan products and foreign companies complicit in the plunder are gaining momentum. The Sahrawi demand is clear: immediate cessation of resource exploitation, recognition of their sovereign rights, and accountability for decades of economic and human rights violations.

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