Madrid, November 15, 2025 – A large demonstration took place today in the Spanish capital, Madrid, as members of the Sahrawi diaspora gathered to voice their support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
Participants also condemned the Madrid Accords, signed 50 years ago, which they view as detrimental to the Sahrawi cause. According to organizers, the demonstrators planned to march to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, carrying banners and chanting slogans demanding that the Sahrawi people be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination and that Spain acknowledge its historical responsibilities in the ongoing conflict.
The Sahrawi community, with a strong presence in Madrid, displayed signs denouncing what they called a ‘disastrous agreement between Morocco and Spain,’ which they believe undermined the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to decide their own future. They emphasized that this right remains paramount.
Sahrawi representatives maintain that Spain retains legal responsibility, both historically and presently, as the administering power of Western Sahara, according to international law and a 2014 ruling by the Spanish National Court.‘Spain’s role is undeniable,’ stated one protest leader.
The Madrid Accords, signed on November 14, 1975, are considered by many Sahrawis to be a grave injustice. These agreements saw Spain relinquish its historical obligation to complete the decolonization of Western Sahara by enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence through a free, democratic, and fair referendum, as mandated by the United Nations since 1966.
These accords led to the division and occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, resulting in ongoing suffering for the Sahrawi people due to the Moroccan presence, which they allege includes human rights abuses and the exploitation of Sahrawi resources in the occupied territories. The demonstrators called for an end to the occupation and for international intervention to ensure a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.
