Malainin Lakhal Denounces Ongoing Moroccan Repression in Western Sahara: A Call for International Accountability and Sahrawi Self-Determination

Malainin Lakhal, the Permanent Representative of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to Ethiopia and the African Union, highlighted these grave issues in a statement to the Algerian Press Agency (APS). Among the latest incidents, Morocco’s forced deportation of two Norwegian activists represents a significant move to limit international presence in the occupied Sahrawi territories, where efforts to monitor human rights conditions are increasingly obstructed.

Human rights defenders, particularly Sahrawi women like Sultana Khaya, Mahfouda Memba Lfakir, Salka Amr, and Aminatu Haidar, have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, and denial of basic rights. Organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported on the violence inflicted on peaceful protesters, yet the international response remains lackluster. Despite ample documentation of these abuses, both the UN Security Council and the international community at large have largely refrained from taking meaningful action.

The situation for Sahrawi political prisoners is equally dire. Human rights groups continue to call for the release of prisoners who endure mistreatment and torture in Moroccan prisons. The case of the “Gdeim Izik” prisoners, arrested in connection with the 2010 protests and sentenced to harsh prison terms, symbolizes the broader issue of political repression in the region. November 8 marks the anniversary of the Gdeim Izik events, a reminder of the continued suffering of the Sahrawi people, with 24 defenders still incarcerated despite life sentences.

This anniversary also highlights the failure of international efforts to expand the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to include human rights monitoring. Morocco’s refusal to accept such provisions, supported by international complicity—particularly from France—has compounded the difficulties faced by the Sahrawi people in their quest for justice and self-determination.

International Double Standards Undermine Sahrawi Struggle

Sidi Mohamed Amar, the Sahrawi representative to the United Nations and coordinator with MINURSO, responded to the recent UN Security Council resolution extending MINURSO’s mandate, emphasizing that the Sahrawi people remain resolute in their pursuit of independence. Amar reiterated that the UN Security Council has reaffirmed the need for a just and lasting solution, which must allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination, as outlined in the UN Charter. Despite persistent attempts by France to undermine this right, the Sahrawi position remains unwavering.

Human rights defender Ghalia Abdullah El Djemi noted that from the beginning of Morocco’s occupation, the authorities have employed a range of violations, including forced displacement and the restriction of fundamental freedoms. Over time, these repressive tactics have intensified, particularly targeting those who reject the occupation or advocate for resistance. El Djemi emphasized that Morocco continues to violate the Sahrawi people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, criminalizing activism and arresting peaceful demonstrators.

“The continuation of these violations reflects the failure of the international community to enforce international laws and resolutions that protect the rights of peoples,” El Djemi said. “The international community must take responsibility and pressure Morocco to end these unjust practices, recognize the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, and allow them to exercise their basic rights.”

Sahrawi political prisoners continue to suffer under harsh conditions. Zahra El-Bachir Sebai, the sister of prisoner Ahmed Bachir Sebai, shared a moving testimony of his deteriorating health conditions in Kenitra prison, where he receives no medical treatment from Moroccan authorities. Similarly, Ghali Adjna, the wife of Sahrawi prisoner Mohamed Bani, confirmed her husband’s chronic illnesses and lack of medical care, alongside the ongoing harassment she faces from occupying police forces due to her unwavering support for Sahrawi independence.

The international community’s failure to address these grave injustices continues to embolden Morocco’s repressive actions, while the Sahrawi people remain steadfast in their struggle for self-determination and justice.