"A hostile act likely to perpetuate the conflict and colonialism in Western Sahara". The Peace and Security Council of the African Union reiterates its position on the illegal exploitaiton of Western Sahara's natural resources.
Photo above: Kosmos Energy chartered a drillship for exploration offshore Western Sahara. Here, the ship is seen off Namibia, heading north on its way to Western Sahara in 2014.
On 11 February 2016, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), dedicated a session to the topic of natural resources and conflicts in Africa.
"Council condemned the illegal exploitation of natural resources of Western Sahara and considered it as a hostile act likely to perpetuate the conflict and colonialism in Western Sahara", is stated in the press statement about the session. "In this regard, Council reiterated the relevant decisions of the United Nations and the African Union, in particular decision Assembly /AU/Dec.583(XXV) adopted by the Assembly at its 25th Ordinary Session, urging the UN Security Council to fully assume its responsibilities, as well as effectively address the issues of the respect of human rights and the illegal exploitation of the Territory’s natural resources."
On 15 October 2015, the African Union published on its website a thorough legal opinion on the natural resource exploitation in the territory.
It should also be recalled that the Peace and Security Council of the AU on 27 March 2015 issued a statement that companies working in Western Sahara would not be welcome in other African Union member states.
Heidelberg Materials deepens its role in Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara
The German company confirms once again that its operations in occupied Western Sahara are closely tied to Morocco’s infrastructure expansion in the territory - while continuing to dismiss the Saharawi people’s right to consent.
The conflict phosphates - four decades of plunder
For over 40 years, a Moroccan state-owned company has exported phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.
Record low number of importers of Western Sahara phosphates
Only three companies imported phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara in 2025 - the lowest number ever recorded. The findings appear in our annual P for Plunder report, released today.
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.