Western Sahara Resource Watch

Maria Damanaki opposed continued EU fishing in Western Sahara

A document leaked by a Moroccan whistleblower indicates that former EU Commissioner for Fisheries did not want to renew the fisheries agreement with Morocco due to human rights violations in Western Sahara, but was allegedly pushed by the Head of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

Published 02 December 2014

Saharawi political prisoners speak out against Kosmos Energy

The 21 Saharawi political prisoners that are still imprisoned on the back of the Gdeim Izik mass protest camp, have today appealed to the church communities in Texas to denounce Kosmos Energy's plans in occupied Western Sahara. Read their full letter here.

Published 06 November 2014

Biggest Saharawi groups from occupied territory tell Kosmos to leave

In a letter sent to Kosmos Energy today, the biggest Saharawi organisations from the occupied territory of Western Sahara forcefully condemn the company's plans to drill for oil in their country. Read their letter here.

Published 15 October 2014

Glencore with 2 licences off occupied Western Sahara

A subsidiary of Glencore Xstrata has been awarded two licences off occupied Western Sahara. The multinational company misplaces the locations of the blocks – placing them in the occupying country, Morocco.

Published 15 October 2014

Do you know anything about the pro-Moroccan puppet organisations?

In an attempt to whitewash its operations in occupied Western Sahara, Kosmos Energy is meeting several sham organisations, picked from a list from the Moroccan authorities. WSRW has received a photo taken in such a meeting that took place this week. We need your help to find out who these individuals and organisations are.

Published 26 September 2014

Kosmos' ordered drill rig on its way to occupied Western Sahara

The Atwood Achiever, the oil rig commissioned by Kosmos Energy to drill for oil in occupied Western Sahara, is currently at anchor in Singapore. In a few weeks time, the rig may permanently damage the Saharawi people's aspirations to freedom and independence, as it commences unethical and illegal oil drilling in Africa's last colony.

Published 23 September 2014

Moroccan PR campaigner to write Kosmos Energy controversy assessment

A Moroccan national who dedicates her life to campaign the Moroccan position of the Western Sahara conflict is working on the upcoming “Social Impact Assessment” of Kosmos Energy. Drilling in the occupied territory to begin in November.

Published 10 September 2014

Kosmos to undertake lie-finding mission to Western Sahara

Kosmos Energy officials are next week to undertake a mission to Western Sahara to meet with pro-Moroccan sham groups in Western Sahara, according to WSRW's sources. The company is ever closer to destroy the future of the Saharawi people.

Published 29 June 2014

WSRW report gives complete overview of controversial clients

WSRW launches today, for the first time, a complete report listing all the clients, volumes, values and shipments relating to Morocco's exports of phosphate rock from occupied territory.

Published 12 June 2014

Ballance Agri-Nutrients' letter to WSRW, 6 May 2014

Published 16 May 2014

Member of WSRW detained by Moroccan police in occupied Western Sahara

Joanna Allan (UK) and Kristina Nygaard (USA) were detained yesterday, 19 April, by the Moroccan police at a checkpoint in El Aaiun, occupied Western Sahara. Joanna Allan is a board member of WSRW.

Published 20 April 2014

WSRW calls on Security Council to speak out on Kosmos oil hunt

WSRW has appealed to the members of the UN Security Council to support UN monitoring of human rights and natural resources exploitation in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 10 April 2014

WSRW requests answers from Kosmos

WSRW has asked Kosmos Energy to demonstrate how it has obtained the consent of the Saharawi people for its activities offshore Western Sahara. The US oil firm plans to start drilling for oil in October this year.

Published 14 March 2014

People in Boujdour frustrated over Kosmos plans

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

Canadian company Agrium claims to follow law, silent on howcome

Agrium Inc, the Canadian company that started importing phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara just a few months ago, claims to have both the law and the principles of corporate responsibility on its side.

Published 06 March 2014

EU Commission fails to address Western Saharan conflict minerals

A law proposed by the European Commission on responsible sourcing of minerals has been watered down to apply only to imports of processed and unprocessed tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold. Accordingly, it will not include phosphate rock – occupied Western Sahara's white gold that Morocco is profiteering on.

Published 05 March 2014

Morocco mining quartz in occupied Western Sahara

Yet another mineral appears to be illegally exploited by Morocco in occupied Western Sahara: quartz.

Published 27 January 2014