Canary Islands Solidarity Group Renews Support for Sahrawi Self-Determination
The Canary Association for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People has renewed its call for continued political and humanitarian support for the Sahrawi people, reaffirming their right to self-determination.
Octavio Melián, president of the Canary Islands-based organization, said in a media interview that Western Sahara remains a non-self-governing territory pending the completion of the decolonization process under international law.
Melián said the Sahrawi people continue to endure difficult conditions in refugee camps, while raising concerns about alleged human rights violations in Western Sahara. He stressed that international support should continue, describing the dispute as an unresolved decolonization issue.
He also reiterated the association’s support for the Polisario Front and its campaign for Sahrawi self-determination and independence.
Melián further claimed that Moroccan authorities restrict access to Western Sahara for some foreign journalists and international observers seeking to independently assess conditions on the ground. He also expressed concern over the treatment of Sahrawi civilians and human rights activists in the territory.
Beyond political advocacy, the association highlighted the importance of humanitarian and cultural initiatives connecting Sahrawi and Canary Islands communities.
Melián pointed in particular to the “Holidays in Peace” program, through which families in the Canary Islands host Sahrawi children during the summer. He said the initiative helps strengthen social and personal ties between families from both communities.
The association’s position reflects the continued support of solidarity groups in the Canary Islands for a political process addressing Western Sahara’s status and the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their future.
