Workshop Denounces Plundering of Western Sahara’s Natural Resources, Urges International Accountability
A discussion workshop held Tuesday spotlighted the exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara, strongly condemning what participants described as systematic plundering by the Moroccan occupation and calling for greater international accountability.
The workshop examined legal mechanisms to protect natural resources, with participants exploring avenues to counter exploitation through international law and advocacy. Delegations of international women also contributed to the discussions, which addressed the added pressures of climate change on Sahrawi refugee camps and their already fragile living conditions.
Speakers highlighted what they described as the involvement of the European Union in cooperation with Morocco in the exploitation of Sahrawi resources, stressing the need to expose companies engaged in such activities. Many interventions focused on intensifying campaigns aimed at resisting resource extraction and raising global awareness about the issue.
Participants also underscored the responsibility of the United Nations to ensure the protection of the Sahrawi people and safeguard their natural wealth from ongoing exploitation, calling for concrete measures to uphold international law.
The workshop was organized as part of the 10th Congress of the National Union of Sahrawi Women, whose proceedings began Monday in Smara Wilaya, bringing together activists and representatives committed to advancing the Sahrawi cause.
