People in Boujdour frustrated over Kosmos plans
Article image
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.
Published 13 March 2014


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. Click on photo for access to higher resolution. No photo credit needed.

Kosmos Energy maintains propaganda site after Western Sahara exit

Kosmos Energy has decided to keep their website defending Western Sahara oil search - even after they have left the territory.

06 March 2018

Studies continue on Kosmos Energy's block

Is Kosmos Energy undertaking a last survey on the Boujdour Maritime licence before it waves goodbye to occupied Western Sahara? Or has an unknown company taken over the licence? Last week, seabed petroleum surveys started at the place where Kosmos drilled in 2014.

08 February 2018

Kosmos and Cairn have pulled out of Western Sahara

17 years of US private company engagement in exploring the oil potential of Western Sahara has come to an end.

07 February 2018

Kosmos surveying oil potential near Dakhla again?

Over the past 24 hours, WSRW has observed a resumed seabed exploration north of Dakhla, in the block operated by American oil company Kosmos Energy in collaboration with Scotland's Cairn Energy.

26 October 2017