Sahrawi Refugee Camps, Algeria – A new report by the Sahrawi Observatory for Natural Resources Monitoring and Environmental Protection alleges that the recent trade agreement between Morocco and the European Union directly infringes upon the sovereignty of the Sahrawi people over their ancestral lands.
The Observatory’s findings, released this week, focus on the import of goods originating from the occupied Western Sahara. The report argues that by including products from this territory within the preferential trade framework, the EU is implicitly recognizing Moroccan control over the region, a move that directly contradicts international law and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
“This agreement constitutes a blatant disregard for the internationally recognized status of Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory,” stated a representative from the Sahrawi Observatory. “The EU is effectively legitimizing Morocco’s occupation and exploitation of Sahrawi natural resources, undermining decades of efforts to achieve a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.”
The Western Sahara has been a contested territory since the withdrawal of Spanish colonial forces in 1975. Morocco claims sovereignty over the region, while the Polisario Front, representing the Sahrawi people, seeks independence and self-determination. The United Nations recognizes the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people.
The Observatory’s report further details the economic implications of the trade agreement, claiming that it allows Morocco to profit from the exploitation of phosphate reserves, fisheries, and agricultural lands within the occupied territory, further marginalizing the Sahrawi population and hindering their ability to achieve economic independence. The report calls on the European Union to immediately suspend the trade agreement and engage in direct dialogue with the Sahrawi people to ensure their rights and interests are protected.
The controversy surrounding the EU-Morocco trade deal highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Western Sahara conflict and raises serious questions about the ethical responsibilities of international actors in dealing with disputed territories. DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as they become available.
