Thousands of Saharawis protest against San Leon Energy
Article image

Massive numbers of Saharawi refugees gathered last weekend to send a clear message to Irish oil company San Leon Energy which is looking for oil in their occupied homeland: "San Leon: go home". Find high resolution footage of the protest, free of charge.

Published 15 October 2015

Two weeks ago, San Leon Energy announced that its exploratory drilling in the Tarfaya Block had revealed gas shows. San Leon had been drilling in the larger part of the border-overlapping Tarfaya Block, which is is located in Western Sahara - a UK size territory which Morocco invaded 40 years ago this November. The company intends to renew its exploration license in order to undertake further seismic surveying on the site.

"We completely reject the activities of those companies which are plundering our resources on a daily basis. As you can see, the people live in exile in brick-houses and tents. So we strongly, condemn the illegal exploitation of our resources", said a young Saharawi woman taking part in the protest. Her testimony can be viewed in the videos below.

Yesterday, WSRW sent San Leon another letter, enquiring the company about their recently suspended test hole drilling just north of El Aaiun, Western Sahara's capital city. 

To date, Western Sahara remains the only Non-Self Governing Territory in the world without a UN-appointed adminstering power. Following the International Court of Justice's Opinion of 1975, delivered 40 years ago tomorrow, the sovereign rights to the territory and its resources remain with its people; the Saharawi people. Their right to self-determination has since been acknowledged in over 100 UN Resolutions.

Ignoring the Saharawi people's rights completely, San Leon chose to strike a deal with the Moroccan government to look for oil in the occupied territory. This has caused frustration and anger with the Saharawis, who - as a direct result of the ongoing occupation - are forced to live in refugee camps in the Algerian desert, or under the brutal rule of the Moroccan authorities in their occupied homeland.

The San Leon drilling is the first onshore drilling operation in the history of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation. It is expected that a possible oil find will only entrench Morocco's already uncompromising position in the UN led peace talks, making the chances of a peaceful resolution to this long-lingering conflict ever more slim.

Short video clips of the protest can be accessed here;
San Leon go home!
San Leon go home! (2)
Morocco go home!
Morocco go home! (2)
Morocco go home! (3) 

Download the photos below for high resolution versions. All videos and photos are free of use. No credit needed. 

sl_610.jpg
Download
sl_2_610.jpg
Download
sl_3_610.jpg
Download
sl_4_610.jpg
Download
sl_5_610.jpg
Download
sl_6_610.jpg
Download

This is what the ECJ said on trade in Western Sahara

WSRW has summarised the key findings of the landmark rulings on Western Sahara of the EU Court of Justice, of 4 October 2024. 

06 November 2024

Morocco still searching partner for controversial cable

Days after the ECJ ruling, Morocco is still trying to find a company that will connect its illegal energy projects in occupied Western Sahara to the Moroccan grid.

04 November 2024

GE Vernova under pressure in occupied Western Sahara

The US company GE Vernova is seemingly gambling with its lucrative projects elsewhere when it operates in occupied Western Sahara for the Moroccan government. 

22 October 2024

Morocco to double dirty green energy in occupied Western Sahara

The Moroccan government is allegedly planning a $2.1 billion investment in new controversial infrastructure projects in occupied Western Sahara.

18 October 2024