Spanish Political Forces Denounce Moroccan Occupation in Western Sahara
Several Spanish political forces have reaffirmed their support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, stressing that after half a century of Moroccan occupation, it is “urgent” to reach a just solution guaranteeing the freedom and independence of Western Sahara.
Spanish Popular Party deputy Carmelo Barrio Baroja stated in an article titled “50 Years of Failure, Doubts, and Deception” published in El Independiente that the Sahrawi people hold an undeniable right to freely decide their own future, adding that Moroccan occupation remains the main obstacle to justice and peace in the region.
Similarly, the secretary-general of the Chunta Aragonesista movement, Isabel Lasobras, said that “any solution not based on the principle of self-determination will lead neither to peace nor to stability,” while denouncing the “lukewarm attitude” of the Spanish government.
The executive body of the Basque party EAJ-PNV also reaffirmed that the Sahrawi people fully enjoy the right to “freely decide” their destiny.
The Associations of Solidarity with Western Sahara (CEAS-Sahara), for their part, denounced repression in the occupied territories and described the Western Sahara situation as an “exceptional case” in contemporary history, recalling that, under international law, the Sahrawi people should have gained independence long ago.
Spanish journalist Elena Etxegoyen, writing on No olvides el Sahara Occidental, called for “breaking the silence around a disguised occupation,” affirming that “the dignity and determination of the Sahrawi people have never been defeated.”
Finally, Embarka Boumjerouda, co-founder of the Polisario Front, told the EFE news agency that “the Front’s strength lies in its organizational capacity and its loyalty to Sahrawi identity,” emphasizing that the Polisario has established itself as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people on the international stage.
