News
65e0d7668957c_signal-2024-02-28-194630_005

The occupying power Morocco, which sabotages the work of the UN Human Rights Council in occupied Western Sahara, has begun its first session after being elected to preside the Council.  

Published 29 February 2024
659ecc2c4fdae_signal-2024-01-10-155552_003

Today, Morocco was elected to chair the UN Human Rights Council. The result generated strong reactions.

Published 10 January 2024
659ba94b55eb3_demomay2013_510

"The credibility of the UN system is at stake", says the Norwegian Support Committee about this week's election of a new presidency of the Human Rights Council. Norwegian organizations are critical of the candidacy.

Published 08 January 2024
6576fa80557c6_Screenshot 2023-12-11 at 12.49.51

A Saharawi activist in Moroccan prison last week initiated an open hunger strike. 

Published 11 December 2023
6448caca040df_dakh

A new report reveals that there is a large-scale export of old Norwegian fishing vessels to vulnerable waters along the African coast. 8 ended up outside occupied Western Sahara.

Published 26 April 2023
6406f11c103ed_60ddded55be84_sultana

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled in favour of the two Saharawi sisters Sultana and Luara Khaya. 

Published 07 March 2023
618e40a88492d_smara_demo_12.01.05

The torture and detention of 10 Saharawi students by Moroccan authorities must be investigated and denounced. This is the demand in a complaint submitted today to the UN Special Procedures.

Published 14 December 2022
637fdc3671221_Smara_14.04.2016

A 16 day-long campaign will shed light on violence committed against women in occupied Western Sahara.  

Published 24 November 2022
63553f2bd5dc3_Camps_Asria

One film festival in the world is different from all others. Read Asria Taleb's encounter with a festival audience in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria - including her connection with a complete stranger.

Published 23 October 2022
630d1442844d6_Side 8 - UNHCR

As a consequence of the increased global food prices, a nutrition crisis is already developing among Saharawi children in Algeria. 

Published 30 August 2022
62bec8750d9ad_GI_Andenæs2

A group of Saharawi political prisoners today filed a legal complaint against Morocco in to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. 

Published 01 July 2022
62a2137eba13a_Mohamed2022

The Saharawi student activist Mohammed Layichi has been on hunger strike for almost a month. 

Published 09 June 2022
62972523edf21_Vennegruppe

A group of friends for Western Sahara consisting of representatives from all nine political parties was established today in the Norwegian parliament

Published 01 June 2022
628c903739c7c_SIDE16_ElliLorz_IMG_0980

What is being done to prevent that Norwegian salmon production undermines food security in West Africa? The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara has challenged Norway's 40 largest aquaculture companies. 

Published 24 May 2022
626bd5fe3fe4e_HassanMohammed

Two well-known Saharawi student activists were this week arrested in Agadir. A trial is expected to start today.  

Published 29 April 2022
gdeim_izik_trial_510

Since 1 April, two Saharawi political prisoners have been on hunger strike, in protest of the deplorable conditions they are living under.   

Published 20 April 2022
630a17b696bbc_Plunder2021

Of the 26 shipments that transported phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara last year, three were insured by Norwegian maritime insurance companies, new report shows. 

Published 06 April 2022
Published 06 April 2022
622b92d246d22_yahya

So far, Yahya Mohamed Elhafed Iaazza has spent 14 years in Moroccan jails.

Published 11 March 2022
622b19a43c103_Finansavisen_11.03.2022

"A regrettable situation", says the director of the shipping company Belships, calling for a ban from the Norwegian authorities.

Published 11 March 2022
6172b074c2689_Mahfouda

We have talked to human rights activist Mahfouda, who recently was sentenced to six months in a Moroccan prison for reprimanding a judge.  

Published 02 November 2021
616579f8d22c8_CJEU

On 29 September, the European Court of Justice struck down the EU's trade and fisheries agreements with Morocco in occupied Western Sahara, deemed to be in breach of international law.

Published 12 October 2021
60ddded55be84_sultana

Morocco must stop targeting human rights defenders and journalists standing up for human rights in Western Sahara, and allow them to work without reprisals, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said today.

Published 01 July 2021

In an early morning raid today, masked agents terrorized and assaulted the home of the Saharawi human rights defender Sultana Khaya, stole belongings and took three activists to an undisclosed location.

Published 10 May 2021

On 7 June 2019, videos began to circulate showing Moroccan police brutally beating up a Saharawi journalist in occupied Western Sahara. Today, a UN opinion calling for his release from prison was made public. 

Published 07 February 2021
khaya1_509

The Saharawi activist Sultana Khaya and her family has for almost 10 weeks been harrassed by Moroccan police when leaving or entering their home in occupied Western Sahara. Help us to denounce. 

Published 26 January 2021
5fe3971854ee5_elh

The political prisoner Elhafed Iaazza is no longer missing in jail, but remains in total isolation, on the 10th week. “I will kill you”, prison director told him today. 

Published 23 December 2020
5fd8fa5940742_Søreide

In a letter to Norwegian civil society today, the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs expressed that self-determination for the people of Western Sahara must constitute the basis for the solution to the conflict. 

Published 15 December 2020

The Saharawi human rights defender Ali Saadouni was illegally imprisoned, unlawfully judged and tortured by Moroccan authorities for putting up Western Sahara flags in a roundabout. This is the conclusion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a decision published today. 

Published 11 December 2020

Sahrawi journalists reporting on the massive crackdown against civilians in occupied Western Sahara are themselves facing repression and arbitrary arrest by Moroccan forces, according to a report and public appeal by four organisations.

Published 04 December 2020

53 Norwegian civil society organisations today sent a joint letter to the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs asking the Norwegian government to support the rights of the Saharawi people as Norway is to take a seat in the UN Security Council from 1 January. 

Published 01 December 2020

Pressure is intensifying on journalists in occupied Western Sahara. Yesterday evening, Moroccan authorities crashed and harassed a wedding party between two journalist colleagues.

Published 22 November 2020

War has broken out in Western Sahara. A Norwegian gas transport may be on its way into the territory.

Published 20 November 2020

The human rights violations taking place right now in occupied Western Sahara need to be denounced. Here are some suggestions on how to do that.

Published 20 November 2020

"The Gdeim Izik events in October 2020 until the Guerguerat demonstration in 2020 can be read as a sign of the UN's lack of orientation", writes Saharawi political prisoner Naama Asfari from his prison cell.  

Published 17 November 2020

The Norwegian certification company DNV GL today stated that it is will phase out its participation in Soluna's controversial bitcoin project in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 05 November 2020

Four days after telling his daughter that he had shared cell with a probable covid-19 patient, Elhafed disappeared. For three weeks, no one has heard from the Saharawi political prisoner.

Published 03 November 2020

On 21 July 2020, a joint communication was issued by five UN mandate holders into the case of the 21-year-old Saharawi activist Khatri Dadda, currently serving a 20-year sentence in a Moroccan jail. 

Published 27 October 2020

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention today recalled its request to Morocco to immediately release a group of imprisoned Saharawi students. 

Published 21 September 2020

A Saharawi student who was deported from Spain to Morocco without having his asylum application considered is next week facing trial in Moroccan court. The UN recently pronounced its concerns. 

Published 18 September 2020

After strict measures for several month, the pandemic has now arrived the vulnerable Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. 

Published 24 July 2020

“Try to Visit Western Sahara”…

Published 10 July 2020

We compile the latest news about the corona crisis in occupied Western Sahara and in the refugee camps. LATEST: The corona virus has arrived the refugee camps in Algeria. 

Published 07 July 2020

After Moroccan settlers in the fisheries industry returned from Morocco to occupied Western Sahara, the number of positive corona patients in the territory has increased with 8250 percent in less than a week. 

Published 26 June 2020

“A prison is normally filled with constant noise from all the prisoners. But not Ait Melloul. In Ait Melloul the silence is terrorizing you and only broken by the screams of prisoners getting tortured.” Our new report tells the story of a group of prisoners that the UN asks to be released. 

Published 10 June 2020

A vessel transporting Norwegian gas was supposed to arrrive in occupied Western Sahara tomorrow, but has now steered away last minute, as ordered by the exporter in Norway.

Published 06 June 2020

Saharawi activists are calling for the investigation of the murder of a student activist, which took place two years ago.  

Published 19 May 2020

The Norwegian state-controlled energy company Equinor ‘regrets’ exports of gas into Western Sahara and promises to never do it again. 

Published 10 May 2020

This version of www.vest-sahara.no became operational just few days ago. Be patient with us. Until we do the formal launch approx 15 May, things on this site will not necessarily work. Thanks for reporting stuff that don't.

Published 30 April 2020

26 Saharawi associations ask for an immediate release of all Saharawi political prisoners, in view of the corona crisis that is hitting Moroccan jails. The appeal includes 230 pages of UN statements on the currently imprisoned activists.

Published 24 April 2020

Norwegian minister for foreign affairs, Mrs Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, today expressed concern over the situation for imprisoned Saharawi human rights defenders. 

Published 22 April 2020
618e3d13ebcb8_marrakech2015

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention this week called on Morocco to release a group of Saharawi students, all political prisoners. 

Published 03 April 2020
camps

The virus could cause significant damage to the Saharawi people. In fact, it already does. 

Published 16 March 2020
618e3d73007e3_flyktningleirene2020

A delegation of all Norwegian political youth parties has returned from a one week visit to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria.  

Published 17 February 2020
618e3df44c3e3_daddach2020

Former laureate of the Rafto Award for Human Rights, Sidi Mohamed Daddach, was this weekend attacked by Moroccan police in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 16 January 2020

A shocking video last year showed Saharawi journalist Walid El Batal pulled out of a car and beaten by Moroccan police. The UN now calls on full investigation.

Published 09 January 2020
618e3e85becde_oceanic_vega_14.09.2019_509

A French-Norwegian seismic survey vessel has entered Saharawi waters four times. The company behind the exploration blames its Dutch client. 

Published 30 October 2019
618e3ed5ad79b_haidar510

Human rights defender Aminatu Haidar from Western Sahara is awarded the prestigious Right Livelihood Award in Sweden for 2019, with, among others environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

Published 26 September 2019
Image

A judge in occupied Western Sahara today concluded that the verdict in the case against Saharawi journalist Nazha El Khalidi will be announced on 8 July.

Published 24 June 2019

The Moroccan ambassador in Oslo stated that Norwegian observers cannot attend trials in Western Sahara, as courtrooms are always closed, including in Norway. The Government of Norway this week stated that this is incorrect.

Published 07 June 2019
618e3be3f2dcb_nazha

A judge in occupied Western Sahara today concluded that the verdict in the case against Saharawi journalist Nazha El Khalidi will be announced on 8 July.

Published 20 May 2019
smievoll_moller_510
Two international observers accredited by the Norway-based Rafto Foundation for Human Rights were today prevented from entering El Aaiún, Western Sahara.
Published 19 May 2019

Nazha Elkhalidi filmed a street demonstration in December. Now, she is charged, and risks a severe punishment. Here, she is filming her own detention on Facebook Live. Trial tomorrow.

Published 17 March 2019
618e3f153d181_vennegruppe

Representatives from all nine political parties at the Norwegian parliament today established a friendship group for Western Sahara.

Published 05 March 2019
Image

The UN working group on Arbitrary Detention asks for the immediate release of human rights defender Mbarek Daoudi. Check our mini-report that gives the context.

Published 15 January 2019

In 2015 and 2017, the Norwegian shipping company Spar Shipping transported two large cargos of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara to India. The company announced today that further trade from the territory is out of the question.

Published 11 January 2019
Image
Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs clarifies that the aviation agreement between Norway and Morocco cannot be applied to Western Sahara.
Published 30 December 2018
Image
The small group of states that prepare Western Sahara resolutions for the United Nations Security Council, the so-called 'Group of Friends for Western Sahara', refuses to allow friends of Western-Sahara be included in the group. Foreign Minister Søreide explains.
Published 10 June 2018
Image

The situation for the 19 Saharawi political prisoners known as the 'Gdeim Izik group' is increasingly worrisome.

Published 27 November 2017
Image

Former President-Rapporteur, United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, expresses deep concern after observing the court case against 24 human rights activists from the occupied parts of Western Sahara. 19 of the 24 Saharawis remain in jail.

Published 25 September 2017
The detainees withdrew from the proceedings, along with their defense attorneys, on the 16th of May. New witnesses have appeared out of the blue, observers explain.
Published 18 May 2017
Image

The proceedings against the so-called Gdeim Izik political prisoners from occupied Western Sahara is again adjourned, and will recommence on the 8 May at the Court of Appeal in Salé, Morocco.

Published 29 March 2017
Image

Today Cheikh Banga, Eenama Asfari and Mohammed Babait gave their testimonies. Just like the previous days the questions they were asked were in direct violations of the Torture Convention. The court was adjourned until Monday 27th of March. 
 

Published 24 March 2017
Image

Today Abdallahi Toubali, Sidahmed Lemjeyid and El Bachir Khadda gave their testimonies in front of the court. Toubali was asked to sign two documents with his eyes shut during the testimony. This to prove he was blindfolded while signing his confession.

Published 22 March 2017
Image

On day 10 Hassan Dah, Abdallahi Lakfawni and Mohamed Embarch Lefkir, testified in front of the court. Interruptions and humiliating questions were frequent and the testimonies are in violation of the Torture Convention, says international observer. 


 

Published 22 March 2017
Image
Published 20 March 2017
Image

Get the latest information about the court case against the Gdeim Izik prisoners from occupied Western Sahara. Continuously updated. 
Day 13 of the appeal takes place on 8 May 2017.

Published 17 March 2017
Image
Published 17 March 2017
Image

See an account of the January 2017 court case against Saharawi activists at the Moroccan court in Salé.

Published 19 February 2017

The affair of the Norwegian fish oil tanker visiting occupied Western Sahara is receiving international attention. 

Published 10 February 2017
Image

Serious flaws were made also in round two of trial against the so-called “Gdeim Izik” Saharawi activists in Morocco. Trial has been postponed until 13 March.

Published 27 January 2017
Image
From 21 to 25 January, 57 foreign visitors to Western Sahara have either been stopped right after arrival to occupied Western Sahara or upon trying to enter. All were deported by police.
Published 23 January 2017
Image
At 11:30 PM the two Norwegians Diego Vaula Foss and Hans Inge Alander were told by Moroccan authorities that they are expelled from Morocco - probably because they had met with people from occupied Western Sahara.
Published 25 January 2017
Image
The two Norwegians Hans Inge Alander and Diego Alexander Vaula Foss are deported by Moroccan authorities on a flight from the occupied Western Sahara against their will, after having flown in this afternoon.
Published 25 January 2017
Image
The leadership of the Red Youth Norway stopped in South of Morocco on their way to the occupied territory.
Published 25 January 2017
Image
Ten citizens from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Italy, Rwanda, Iran and Norway are now being deported from southern Morocco.
Published 25 January 2017
Image
Leader and international responsible of the Student Parliament of Bergen, Håkon Randgaard Mikalsen and Eirik Lie Reikerås were thrown out of occupied Western Sahara this evening, after landing with a flight from Casablanca.
Published 24 January 2017
Image
A group of youth politicians, from the very right to left in Norwegian political landscape, were refused to travel to Western Sahara at 3PM today by Moroccan police.
Published 24 January 2017
Image
A group of six friends, five Norwegians and one Swede, started talking with the wrong people on the bus, according to Moroccan police. As a consequence, they are now being expelled from south Morocco, refused access to occupied Western Sahara.
Published 23 January 2017
Image
Two representatives of the Liberal Youth of Norway were this morning stopped by Moroccan police and escorted out of southern Morocco. The police did not want them to travel to the occupied territory.
Published 23 January 2017
Image
Teodor and Thea from Green Youth of Norway were picked out of the bus they were sitting in, and refused further travel into occupied Western Sahara by Moroccan police.
Published 23 January 2017
Image
The National Union of Students in Norway and the Student Parliament at the University of Trondheim were last night refused access into Western Sahara by Moroccan police.
Published 23 January 2017
Image
A group of Norwegian trade unionists were at midnight refused access to occupied Western Sahara due to the bad weather conditions there.
Published 23 January 2017