British Organization: Morocco Uses Media Disinformation to Undermine Sahrawi Right to Self-Determination
The UK-based human rights organization Adala UK has accused Morocco of heavily investing in media disinformation to obstruct any genuine path toward the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. The organization called for enhanced UN oversight of the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara.
In a new report reaffirming its commitment to defending oppressed peoples, Adala UK warned British media against promoting false narratives that serve the interests of the occupying force, citing systematic violations against Sahrawi civilians, including arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearances.
The organization emphasized that the Polisario Front is the legitimate and sole representative of the Sahrawi people, as recognized by United Nations resolutions. It rejected attempts to falsely associate the movement with terrorism, comparing such smear campaigns to those historically waged against prominent liberation leaders, notably the late Nelson Mandela.
According to the report, Morocco—which has occupied Western Sahara by force since 1975—exploits its political and economic relations to silence some international actors regarding its repressive practices in the occupied territory.
Adala UK urged the international community, particularly the British government, to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and to review its stance on the conflict, rather than aligning with the occupying power’s propaganda.
The report also called for stronger UN monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara and the revival of the referendum option as the only viable solution to decades of suffering.
In conclusion, the organization pledged to continue exposing crimes, debunking disinformation, and advocating for the just Sahrawi cause, regardless of the passage of time or intensifying smear campaigns.
The report follows remarks by former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton in an interview with Spain’s “El Independiente,” in which he reiterated that the Polisario Front is the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people and accused Morocco of persistently obstructing international efforts to organize a referendum in line with international legitimacy.
