The Western Sahara oil curse
Article image
Big oil’s interest in occupied Western Sahara has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Some companies are now drilling, in complete disregard of international law and the Saharawi people’s rights. Here’s what you need to know.
Published 06 November 2015


Read all about it
The companies
The lies
Take action
It is unseen: a country is carrying out a large-scale oil exploration programme outside of its national borders. When that happened last time, under Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor, the activities were widely condemned and universally acknowledged as illegal.

Yet, this is precisely what Morocco is doing now in Western Sahara. But this time, the entire international community looks away.

Western Sahara is often called the last colony of Africa, and the UN treats it as such; as a Non-Self Governing Territory without an administering power in place. The people of Western Sahara, the Saharawis, have an internationally recognised right to self-determination; the right to decide the future status of the land and its resources.

The Saharawis have time and again spoken out against the oil development in their occupied homeland. Their voices are ignored by Morocco, the international community and the oil companies that choose to side with Morocco, who all seem to put profit over people.

Read up on big oil in Western Sahara, and find out what you can do to help put an end this injustice.

Bureau Veritas suggests Western Sahara is Morocco

The French company - which claims to excel at understanding of regulations - seemingly fails to know in which country it is supporting businesses. 

07 May 2025

SRI update

The following overview enlists stock-exchange registered companies with current or recent operations in occupied Western Sahara. Updated 7 May 2025.

07 May 2025

Wärtsilä into politics - defends operations on occupied land

The Finnish company Wärtsilä refers to Western Sahara as part of Morocco and cites the positions of “certain countries” to justify its operations in the occupied territory.

02 May 2025

Siemens Energy misrepresents EU Court rulings

The German multinational - which supplies the Moroccan energy projects in the occupied territory - fails to grasp EU court rulings. 

07 April 2025