Urgent Human Rights Concerns in Western Sahara
On June 21, 2026, during the proceedings of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (Committee of 24) in New York, the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA) brought to light the alarming human rights violations occurring in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Representing CODESA, human rights advocate Tayeb Malikhaf articulated grave concerns regarding Morocco’s appropriation of Sahrawi lands, the demolition of civilian homes, and the transfer of these territories to foreign companies and investors. This strategy, he emphasized, is part of a broader agenda aimed at entrenching a colonial status quo and internationalizing the ongoing occupation.
Malikhaf highlighted that the Moroccan occupation authorities have persistently engaged in operations to expropriate lands used or owned by Sahrawis, affecting both rural communities and areas along the Atlantic coast. The systematic destruction of homes and properties owned by Sahrawi civilians is a distressing aspect of this policy, which also severely restricts their access to traditional lands and livelihoods. He underscored that vast stretches of land are being allocated to foreign entities without the necessary consent or consultation with the Sahrawi people, despite their unassailable sovereignty over their land and natural resources.
The speaker emphasized that this land expropriation cannot be viewed in isolation from the overarching climate of occupation in Western Sahara; it is inherently linked to efforts aimed at instigating significant demographic, economic, and structural transformations within the territory. These actions not only undermine the rights of the local population but also establish external economic interests that are closely tied to the perpetuation of the occupation. Furthermore, Malikhaf addressed the dire issue of landmines that have been laid by the Moroccan military, which continue to pose a lethal threat to Sahrawi civilians, resulting in fatalities and lasting disabilities.
CODESA has called upon the Committee of 24 to denounce the unlawful seizure of Sahrawi lands and the destruction of civilian property, urging all states and foreign companies to abstain from engaging in investments related to Western Sahara without the explicit consent of the Sahrawi people. The organization has also demanded that the United Nations send independent missions to monitor violations concerning land and property rights within the territory. It is crucial for the UN to reaffirm that any transactions involving land, resources, or property in Western Sahara are invalid unless conducted with the approval of the Sahrawi people, who are the legitimate sovereign authority in the region.
In conclusion, CODESA expressed its hope that the United Nations would assume its legal and moral obligation to safeguard the lands and rights of the Sahrawi people until the decolonization process is fully realized, thereby enabling them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
