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

Published 16 March 2020
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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
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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