Check out this image from yesterday. Saharawis in Western Sahara are increasingly frustrated over the US oil company Kosmos Energy's plans to drill in the occupied territory of Western Sahara on behalf of the occupying power Morocco.
Western Sahara Resource Watch has been in contact with a number of civil society groups in Western Sahara over the last weeks to hear their views on the plans of Kosmos Energy to drill offshore the occupied Western Sahara later this year.
Has Kosmos or the Moroccan government ever tried to contact you to hear if this oil exploration is in accordance with your wishes?
The answer is a unanimous 'no'.
"Kosmos go home, Leave Western Sahara. Atwood, don't come here", the banners read, of a small gathering taking place in Boujdour Wednesday afternoon.
Among the people demonstrating, seen on the images, is human rights activist Sultana Khaya. She is blind on one eye following beating by police some years ago.
Frente Polisario, who represents the Saharawis in the UN peace talks with Morocco, has repeatedly condemned the plans of the company.
A UN legal opinion from 2002 states that further exploration would be illegal if the people of the territory are against it.
Image above can be used freely. No photo credit needed.
One of the richest coastlines in the world
The fish stocks of occupied Western Sahara have not only attracted the interest of the Moroccan fleet: other foreign interests are also fishing in the occupied waters through arrangements with Moroccan counterparts. Along the Western Saharan coastline, a processing industry has emerged.
The CJEU Court Cases
Keeping track of the many legal proceedings relating to Western Sahara is not easy. This page offers an overview of the cases concerning the territory that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Tūhana human rights advisors ignore human rights
A consultancy hired to assess phosphate imports from occupied Western Sahara into New Zealand concludes there is no problem.
MEPs push back on Commission over Western Sahara in EU–Morocco trade
MEPs from across the political spectrum sharply criticised the European Commission over its handling of EU-Morocco trade relations covering occupied Western Sahara, raising concerns over legality, transparency and an apparent disregard for Parliament’s role.