DZWatch Exclusive: Morocco is facing renewed accusations of violating international law with its latest infrastructure project in the occupied Western Sahara. A new electricity line, slated to traverse the territory, has drawn sharp criticism from international observers who claim it is designed to further entrench Moroccan control and exploit the region’s natural resources.
According to a statement released to DZWatch, the project, stretching approximately 1000 kilometers, is not merely about transmitting electricity. Critics argue it represents a calculated effort to solidify the occupation and deepen the forced integration of the Western Sahara into the Moroccan economy. This is being done, they allege, without the consent of the Sahrawi people, rendering the project illegal under international law.
Concerns have been raised about the framing of the electricity line as a ‘clean energy’ initiative. The critics suggest this is a smokescreen to mask the true intention: the annexation of infrastructure in occupied territory. They warn that directly linking energy infrastructure transforms renewable energy projects into political tools, used to secure resource exploitation and perpetuate economic dominance over the occupied territories.
The controversial project, aiming to transmit up to 2000 megawatts of renewable electricity with a target operational date of December 2028, is allegedly part of a larger pattern. Sources suggest Morocco is constructing multiple high-capacity electricity transmission corridors from the occupied territories.
“The Sahrawi people have not given their consent for the establishment of this new electricity corridor despite its long-term implications for land use and resource control,” the statement emphasized.
These developments, critics argue, demonstrate that Morocco is not only expanding its electricity grid but also accelerating the integration of the occupied Western Sahara’s infrastructure into its electrical, industrial, and long-term planning systems. The continued implementation of such projects without the involvement of the indigenous population constitutes a persistent violation of international law and underscores the urgent need for international intervention to guarantee the rights of the Sahrawi people and end the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara. DZWatch is committed to providing ongoing coverage of this developing situation.
