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The Occupation We Choose to Ignore’

Do you know who I am? I am a Sahrawi. The land to which I refer is what is known today as the non-self-governing territory ofWestern Sahara. My country was colonized by the Spanish and the French between 1884 and 1975, divided in two and occupied by Moroccan and Mauritanian forces thereafter, and has been ruled exclusively by the Kingdom of Morocco from 1979 until the present.

The Western Sahara: forgotten first source of the Arab Spring

this is one part of the Arab Spring that western governments don't want to talk about. And their silence, and the UN's complicity in it, is why that repression continues, and a terrible injustice is perpetuated.

ISS - News - The Western Sahara and North African People’s Power

Respect the right of individuals to peacefully express their opinions regarding the status and future of the Western Sahara and to document violations of human rights

King of Morocco to be biggest benefactor of EU trade agreement - Telegraph

it has emerged that the single biggest beneficiary of the deal will be the King of Morocco, who is head of one of the three largest agricultural producers in the north African country and lays claim to 12,000 hectares of the nation's most fertile farmland.

North African Dispatches Africa’s Forgotten Colony

Oblivion it seems is the current reality for the arid North African territory of Western Sahara; often referred to as Africa’s ‘Last Colony’. In my opinion, it would be more accurate to describe it as ‘Africa’s Forgotten Colony’.

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Mar 10, 2012

EU Council still split over reference to Western Sahara - fishelsewhere.eu

EU Member States are still divided as to whether an explicit reference to Western Sahara should be included in the European Commission’s sought mandate to negotiate a new fish deal with Morocco. The Commission requested the Council’s approval three weeks ago.

Published: 26.01 - 2012 12:39Printer version

At yesterday’s meeting of Member States’ experts, Denmark – currently holding the EU Presidency – proposed that the Commission’s mandate should not expressly mention Western Sahara.

The Commission issued a draft mandate on 5 January, seeking the Council’s endorsement. This draft text states clearly that the fishing zones covered by the envisioned agreement will include those “off the waters of the Non-Self Governing Territory of Western Sahara, south of 27°40N”.

A second specific mention states that for the implementation of the fisheries agreement, the Commission expects Morocco to guarantee it will fulfil its obligations under international law which result from the de facto administration of Western Sahara. According to the Commission, Morocco should regularly report on the geographical distribution of the socio-economic impact stemming from the support given under the agreement.

These two references to Western Sahara have been stirring debates at the Council level for weeks. Spain and France, backed up by Portugal, Latvia and Lithuania, demand that any specific mention of Western Sahara be removed from the text, in order not to upset the Moroccan counterpart. On the other hand, countries like Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany favour the clear references.

The Presidency has now decided to refer the matter to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), which is expected to discuss the issue next week.

Just one month ago, the European Parliament rejected the extension of the previous fisheries agreement with Morocco, over legal concerns on the inclusion of Western Saharan waters.

Africa's last colony -Western Sahara

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