Sahrawi Government Condemns French Minister’s “Illegitimate” Visit to Occupied Western Sahara

In an official statement released on Tuesday, February 18, the Sahrawi Ministry of Culture decried the visit as a “suspicious” and “provocative” gesture, accusing France of complicity in Morocco’s colonial policies and territorial expansion. The statement emphasized that France’s involvement in activities aimed at bolstering Morocco’s control over Western Sahara—such as the opening of cultural facilities under the auspices of the Moroccan occupier—constitutes a direct challenge to international law and a deliberate affront to the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, a right enshrined in numerous international resolutions.

“This visit represents an overtly hostile and provocative action, which can only be interpreted as an attempt to provide legitimacy to the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara,” stated the Sahrawi Ministry of Culture. “Such actions are not only illegal but are also a direct insult to the internationally recognized rights of the Sahrawi people. We categorically reject and condemn this unprovoked interference.”

The Ministry further declared that any cultural initiatives or projects undertaken in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, under the patronage of the Moroccan occupation, are null and void. It reiterated that these acts do not alter the fact that Western Sahara remains an occupied territory, as established by United Nations resolutions. The statement called on international bodies, including the United Nations, the European Union, and UNESCO, to take urgent action to prevent the exploitation of culture as a tool for colonial domination by the Moroccan occupier.

In addition, the Sahrawi government highlighted the need for global actors to cease any collaboration with Morocco’s occupation, drawing attention to the recent courageous and binding ruling by the European Court of Justice regarding the natural resources of Western Sahara, which rejected Morocco’s unilateral exploitation of the region’s wealth. The Ministry of Culture appealed for stronger international condemnation of actions that undermine the Sahrawi people’s rights, particularly in light of the ongoing violations by the Moroccan authorities.

The condemnation of the French minister’s visit serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle of the Sahrawi people for self-determination and sovereignty over their land. Despite these attempts by external powers to bolster Morocco’s illegal occupation, the Sahrawi people remain resolute in their pursuit of independence and justice, calling on the international community to uphold its commitments to international law and the rights of indigenous peoples.