Parliament seminar in Oslo marks 40 year occupation
Article image
Today marks the 40th 'anniversary' of the illegal Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara. The Friendship Group of Western Sahara in the Norwegian parliament marks the date.
Published 06 November 2015


On 6 November 2015, The Norwegian Parliament's Group of Friends of Western Sahara in organised a seminar at the Parliament in Oslo called "Western Sahara: 40 years under occupation."

"Why do we allow the situation in Western Sahara continue? How can we push through a referendum in Western Sahara", MP Trine Skei Grande, leader of the Liberal Party of Norway, opened. The meeting was led by MP Åsmund Aukrust, of the Labour Party.

The Group of Friends for Western Sahara was established in 2014.

Suelma Beirouk, vice-president of the Panafrican Parliament and MP in the Western Sahara republic expressed the faith that the Saharawi people had in the UN to work for decolonisation. "We thought the UN charter applied to all peoples, including the weakest", she said.

Pål Wrange, professor in international law ant the University of Stockholm and former legal advisor in Swedsh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined the legal background for the conflict. Wrange today had a piece in Swedish newspaper in the newspaper DN today.

Danish Kurt Mosgaard, former force commandor of the military unit of UN operation in Western Sahara, MINURSO. "International law is particularly important for small countries for Denmark and Norway", Mosgaard said. He underlined that he does not care whether Saharawis would opt for independence or being part of another country. "The most important is that they are allowed to choose for themselves", he said.

Elwali Amidane, activist from the occupied territories, now living in Sweden, was in jail from 2006 to 2011. He explained how Morocco responded to demonstrations for self-determination and how it is to be in a Moroccan jail.

stortinget2_509.jpg

e4cbstortinget1_509.jpg

stortinget3_509.jpg

ac46stortinget4_509.jpg

stortinget5_509.jpg

stortinget6_509.jpg

stortinget7_509.jpg

stortinget9_509.jpg

mosgaard2_509.jpg

wrange_509.jpg

elwali_509.jpg

mosgaard_509.jpg

aukrust_509.jpg

1fb6suelma_509.jpg

The Security Council fails Western Sahara and international law

On 31 October 2025, a new resolution was adopted in the UN Security Council calling on the Saharawis to negotiate a solution that would entail their incorporation into the occupying power, Morocco.

03 November 2025

Saharawis Demonstrate Against Trump Proposal

The United States has proposed in a meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday that the occupied Western Sahara be incorporated into Morocco.

28 October 2025

Skretting Turkey misled about sustainability

Dutch-Norwegian fish feed giant admits using conflict fishmeal from occupied Western Sahara. Last month, it removed a fake sustainability claim from its website.

27 October 2025

Morocco plans massive AI center in occupied Western Sahara

A 500 MW hyperscale data center for Artificial Intelligence is being envisaged in the occupied territory. 

04 September 2025