Almost unnoticed by the public, the freedom movement for the Western Sahara won a big victory in June on an international level of justice. The Polisario Front committed itself to abide by the four Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols in its conflict with Morocco, thereby placing the conflict under the jurisdiction of humanitarian international law, which is legally binding for both parties.
The signing of last June has far-reaching consequences: it records the fact that Western Sahara is under military occupation, and that the freedom movement has fought and is still fighting against an occupying force. In addition it is recognised that the Polisario Front officially represents the Sahrawi people. This means that it is no longer allowable for resources in the Western Sahara to be mined, without the agreement of the Polisario Front. Today a large number of companies - under the assumption that Morocco is the de facto administrator of the area - are active in the Western Sahara by agreement with the Moroccan authorities, which means that the profits are channelled to Morocco, while the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi is being flouted.
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
Follow the news about EU's illegal fisheries in Western Sahara
