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Today, the EU Commission will answer questions from EU Parliamentarians about its plans to negotiate a trade arrangement for Western Sahara, with Morocco - the country that occupies the territory. Such an agreement is not legal, according to European top court. The Commission’s trade plans are kept away from public scrutiny.
Published 30 May 2017
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The Ultra Innovation left the port of Panama City on 21 May, and is currently heading towards Vancouver. The dispute over the ownership of the cargo could still be pending court case.
Published 24 May 2017
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The South African court that is deciding on the ownership of a detained phosphate rock shipment from occupied Western Sahara, has set a date for its judgment.

Published 18 May 2017
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For the second time this month, a vessel carrying conflict minerals from occupied Western Sahara has been detained by a national court. This time: the Danish vessel Ultra Innovation heading to Canada.

Published 18 May 2017
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The EU Commission is now seeking the EU member states approval to brush aside the judgement of the Court of Justice of the EU, by negotiating a new agreement with Morocco for trade with occupied Western Sahara.

Published 11 May 2017
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The biggest international company currently present in occupied Western Sahara is ending its operations in the territory, according to Swiss media.
Published 11 May 2017
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The company which hardly ever responds to concerns over their imports of conflict phosphates from occupied Western Sahara has now started talking.

Published 04 May 2017

This film was shot in Gibraltar shortly before arriving occupied Western Sahara.

Published 04 May 2017
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A bulk vessel was Tuesday this week detained in the South African port of Port Elizabeth for carrying phosphate rock plundered from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 03 May 2017
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The Italian renewable energy corporation Enel Green Energy evades questions by civil society about its operations on occupied land.

Published 03 May 2017
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Several UN Member States have today recommended Morocco to hold the long-overdue referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara.
Published 02 May 2017
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This week, the parliament of Galicia demanded full suspension of trade and corporate complicity in the exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara. Galicia is only one among many.
Published 29 April 2017
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And a second consignment is apparently on its way.
Published 27 April 2017
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“We have no other choice than to set up a second Gdeim Izik protest camp”, disenfranchised Saharawi protesters say.
Published 26 April 2017
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Irish/UK oil company San Leon Energy's work in occupied Western Sahara is delayed, and the company claims to the Moroccan government that it is due to "regional security situation".

Published 26 April 2017
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Over 200 million dollars worth of phosphate rock was shipped out of occupied Western Sahara last year, a new report from WSRW shows. For the first time, India is among the top importers.

Published 25 April 2017
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121 days have passed since WSRW inquired into Vigeo Eiris's certification of Morocco's energy projects in occupied Western Sahara. The firm, which advises investors on matters human rights, now states that seeking Saharawi consent is irrelevant.
Published 23 April 2017
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The seismic study programme of Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy offshore occupied Western Sahara ended on 12 April.
Published 15 April 2017
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The biggest purchaser of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara has said its purchase agreement is only a temporary solution, and that it hopes to find phosphate rock elsewhere.
Published 11 April 2017
A captain which had been protesting over many months against corruption in the fishing industry in Dakhla on 30 March carried out his threat of self-immolation.
Published 11 April 2017
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The national liberation movement of Western Sahara has sent a protest letter to the Texas based company Kosmos Energy, that explores for oil offshore the waters of occupied Western Sahara for the Moroccan government.
Published 31 March 2017
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The US company FMC Corp has confirmed to WSRW that it has sold 33,3 percent ownership in the Venezuelan company Tripoliven which imports phosphates from Western Sahara. Now it is all Venezuelan.

Published 30 March 2017
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Last week, a group of around 60 unemployed Saharawis hi-jacked a bus from Phosboucraa, to voice their protest against the Moroccan-owned company's exploitation of occupied Western Sahara's phosphate mine.

Published 28 March 2017
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Kosmos and Cairn Energy are exploring for oil offshore Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. This photo taken yesterday shows one of their supply vessels.

Published 28 March 2017
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Morocco has started using its phosphate resources to expand influence on the African continent. The phosphate rock could have been central in the country’s accession to the African Union.
Published 24 March 2017
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Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy have over the last weeks undertaken another round of seismic studies offshore Western Sahara. The vessels' movements indicate the location for a new possible drilling site.
Published 23 March 2017
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The Peace and Security Council of the African Union this week asked its new member, Morocco, to not carry out further exploration and exploitation of the natural resources in Western Sahara.

Published 23 March 2017
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A note sent from French government to the French parliamentarians in Brussels today casts doubts on whether France has studied the judgment at all. Debate on live TV takes place now.

Published 20 March 2017
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The Moroccan government has opened for a relatively large tender in Dakhla.

Published 17 March 2017
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The Spanish government in a statement yesterday confirmed the EU court's judgement that Western Sahara goods are not covered by the EU-Morocco trade deal. Spain states it is up to France to make sure the controversial trade of fish oil from 'Key Bay' vessel was properly tariffed.

Published 17 March 2017
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This is how you order the book "The European Union Approach Towards Western Sahara".

Published 16 March 2017
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Fertilizers exported by Morocco contains dangerous levels of the heavy metal cadmium. Morocco now tries to prevent the EU from implementing regulations to limit the carcinogenic element.
Published 10 March 2017
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A declaration from the parliament of the Basque Country asked its companies to stay away from the occupied territory.
Published 08 March 2017
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The UK-French company Vigeo Eiris advising investors on the occupations of Palestine and Crimea is facilitating the Moroccan government’s energy projects in occupied Western Sahara. The ethical investor community is baffled. Read all here.
Published 03 March 2017
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The Swiss company is undertaking more seismic studies and has entered into a renewed contract on a neighbouring block, offshore the occupied territory.

Published 15 February 2017
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The company which has certified Moroccan energy projects in occupied Western Sahara applies an ever stronger Moroccan terminology on the Western Sahara issue than before. WSRW still seeks answers to its questions.
Published 14 February 2017

Why does Siemens not seek the consent of the Saharawis to operate on their land? At the company's Annual Shareholders Meeting, the company failed to answer.

Published 13 February 2017
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The second confirmed shipment of products from Western Sahara into the EU is a fact. Destination: Normandy, France.

Published 10 February 2017
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The exports of salt from Western Sahara to Denmark has now stopped. The Danish salt importer Dansk Vejsalt has declared that it will no longer be importing de-icing salt from the occupied territory.
Published 09 February 2017
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The European Commission recognizes the importance of respecting "the separate and distinct status of the territory of Western Sahara" when considering energy imports from Morocco.
Published 02 February 2017
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Upon arrival to Ghent, Belgium, tomorrow, the controversial vessel Key Bay - transporting fish oil from Western Sahara into the EU - will be empty.
Published 25 January 2017
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Beautiful images of a vessel with an ugly cargo; fish oil taken illegally from an occupied land; the Key Bay in the port of Fécamp.

Published 24 January 2017
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The vessel carrying fish oil from occupied Western Sahara into the European Union seems to have unloaded some, but not all, of its cargo in Fécamp, France.
Published 24 January 2017
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This morning, the Key Bay tanker delivered a shipment of fish oil from occupied Western Sahara to France. But why does that potentially violate EU regulations?
Published 23 January 2017
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The vessel carrying fish oil from occupied Western Sahara is about to enter its port of destination, after a delay of at least two days.
Published 22 January 2017
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On 20 January at 5 PM, the vessel Key Bay is set to arrive in the north of France. Polisario is filing complaints vis-a-vis French and EU authorities, asking them to act.
Published 18 January 2017
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The vessel carrying fish oil from occupied Western Sahara into the EU is at present entering the harbour of Las Palmas.

Published 14 January 2017
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After a long stay-over in Mauritania, the chemical tanker 'Key Bay' is now on its way to the EU with fish oil from occupied Western Sahara. First stop: Las Palmas.
Published 14 January 2017
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Photos and video shows Key Bay inside the port of El Aaiun in occupied Western Sahara, loading fish oil.

Published 07 January 2017
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Two weeks have passed since the Court of Justice of the EU decided that Western Sahara products cannot be part of EU-Morocco trade deal. A vessel is now to transport fish oil from the occupied territory, most probably to France.
Published 06 January 2017
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Key Bay is this evening picking up fish oil in the occupied territory of Western Sahara, to transport to the EU. See photos here.

Published 06 January 2017
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Irish oil company San Leon confirms that an unknown Chinese investor is sniffing on a majority stake in the company. San Leon is looking for oil in occupied Western Sahara, in violation of international law.

Published 04 January 2017
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The US oil company Kosmos Energy, operating offshore occupied Western Sahara, is requested by an OECD national contact point to "refrain from positioning interpretations as facts". The company refuses to remove lies about a civil society association from its website and refuse to answer questions from WSRW.
Published 25 December 2016
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International investors have shied away from funding Morocco's dirty 'green' energy in occupied Western Sahara. But a Moroccan subsidiary of the French-UK firm Vigeo Eiris has stepped in to certify the bonds which will secure the necessary financing.
Published 23 December 2016
See statement and press conference held today in Brussels.
Published 22 December 2016
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The Court of Justice's decision to clearly exclude Western Sahara from EU-Morocco trade deals are met with celebrations among Saharawis. See images and videos coming in from refugee camps.

Published 21 December 2016
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The highest Court of the European Union this morning found that EU's trade agreement with Morocco cannot be implemented in Western Sahara.

Published 21 December 2016

Moroccan police today barred Saharawis from attending a "public consultation" organised by ACWA Power, contracted to construct the first solar plants in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 30 November 2016

The Moroccan government has contracted a group of companies to construct three solar plants – two of which will be located in occupied Western Sahara. But who are they?

Published 29 November 2016
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Germany, France, Spain and Portugal have signed a roadmap agreement with Morocco to work towards renewable electricity trade between Morocco and the EU.
Published 28 November 2016
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Three Saharawis have submitted a complaint against police brutality following their protest against companies that import phosphate rock from their occupied homeland.

Published 24 November 2016
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For the second year in a row, the Moroccan government has spent most of the EU's fish sector support on the development of the fishing industry in occupied Western Sahara. And the EU was fully aware of it.
Published 23 November 2016
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As COP22 closes shop in Marrakech, a group of 51 MEPs has asked the European Commission to do all necessary to prevent the Union from becoming involved in Morocco's renewable energy plans in occupied Western Sahara.
Published 18 November 2016
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From this winter on, Swiss supermarkets will probably, for the first time, no longer sell tomatoes from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 18 November 2016
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Morocco has selected Saudi company ACWA Power to develop 100 MW of solar power in occupied Western Sahara. The deal was inked at the UN's Climate Conference, COP22.

Published 16 November 2016
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The oil block named "Tarfaya Onshore", overlapping the border between Morocco and the occupied territory of Western Sahara, in still unresolved, a newly published oil map reveals.

Published 15 November 2016
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It appears that the Moroccan government has shortlisted three Saudi companies to do develop the first phases of a large and highly problematic solar energy programme in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 15 November 2016
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See the accreditation document of the Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament here.

Published 10 November 2016

A spokesman for UNFCCC told media that it has requested answer from the organisers of COP22 on why they kicked out the vice-president of the PanAfrican-Parliament.

Published 09 November 2016
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Morocco's minister of foreign affairs - as expected - today propagated about his country's occupation of Western Sahara during the opening statement of COP22.

Published 07 November 2016
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The vice-president of the Panafrican Parliament, Suelma Beirouk, was to attend COP22, but is now being held by Moroccan police. Morocco has occupied her homeland Western Sahara - and illegally built windmills on it.

Published 07 November 2016
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The spokesperson of UN Secretary-General today said that the erroneous maps depicting Western Sahara as part of Morocco on the COP22.ma website had been raised with the UN climate organisation UNFCCC. Meanwhile, COP22's organisers keep propagating the Moroccan occupation.
Published 07 November 2016

On the evening of 6 November 2016, the day before the opening of the climate talks in Marrakech, the official website COP22.ma is relaunched. False map is gone.

Published 06 November 2016
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Today, refugees from Western Sahara organised a demonstration against the energy companies Siemens and Enel. The two companies refuse to follow UN demands of seeking Saharawi consent as they are building windmills for Morocco on their occupied homeland.

Published 06 November 2016
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Morocco - whose king has personally invested in energy projects in Western Sahara - is now also pushing Western Sahara propaganda through the official Twitter account of COP22.

Published 05 November 2016
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A UN expert human rights committee looking into how Morocco is handling civil and political rights, today expressed deep concerns of the management of the natural resources in Western Sahara, the stalemate in the process of self-determination for the Saharawis, and torture against Saharawis.
Published 04 November 2016
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Nareva, the wind company of the King of Morocco, fails to answer questions on human rights by the international Business and Human Rights Center, in a study published yesterday.

Published 04 November 2016
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There is little renewable in the operations of the Siemens run wind park in occupied Western Sahara. See the mills that supply the Moroccan illegal mining here, in partnership with the Moroccan king.

Published 03 November 2016
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At COP22, beware of what you read about Morocco’s renewable energy efforts. An increasing part of the projects take place in the occupied territory of Western Sahara and is used for mineral plunder, new WSRW report documents.

Published 02 November 2016
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The ex-UN Legal Counsel, who in 2002 wrote an important opinion for the UN Security Council on resources in Western Sahara, says that Siemens are on thin ice when building wind parks in Western Sahara.
Published 02 November 2016
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Maps in a Moroccan propaganda exposition about energy infrastructure were this week removed from the European Parliament.

Published 21 October 2016
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Lithuanian fertilizer producer Lifosa has taken in another shipment of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara, just months after having gone on record saying they would not do so again.

Published 10 October 2016
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Yesterday, Saharawis gathered to protest Siemens, which is developing the energy infrastructure in Western Sahara for the Moroccan government.

Published 28 September 2016
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San Leon Energy's controversial oil programme in occupied Western Sahara might continue with more drilling, according to company.

Published 22 September 2016
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The EU has fixed a map that displayed Western Sahara as part of Morocco - and has postponed further sanitary controls in the Sahrawi occupied territory.

Published 20 September 2016
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The Advocate General to the Court of Justice of the EU delivered a lengthy 70 page opinion on the Polisario-EU court case. WSRW asked Polisario's lawyer to clarify some aspects of the text.

Published 20 September 2016
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The tanker Key Bay yesterday arrived Fécamp. French customs refuse to comment. We have the images.

Published 17 September 2016
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The cargo on board the vessel "Key Bay", which arrives Normandy today, will allegedly not be tariffed, as France claims EU agreement with Morocco is in force.

Published 15 September 2016
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Just as the Advocate General of the European Court clarifies that EU-Morocco trade cannot include Western Sahara goods, a massive cargo of fish oil is set to arrive in Normandy. "Piracy", says the European Parliament's rapporteur on the EU-Morocco trade deal.

Published 13 September 2016
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"Neither the EU-Morocco Association Agreement nor the EU-Morocco Agreement on the liberalisation of trade in agricultural and fishery products apply to Western Sahara", says the EU Court's Advocate General in his Opinion today.

Published 13 September 2016
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A chemical tanker is about to arrive France with fish oil from occupied Western Sahara. The Court of Justice of the EU last year concluded Western Sahara goods are not part of the trade agreement with Morocco.

Published 10 September 2016
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Two dozen Saharawi activists have been jailed for 6 years after demanding socio-economic rights. Join Amnesty's campaign demanding their release.
Published 01 September 2016
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All workers of a Polish state owned company in occupied Western Sahara have just been pulled out from the territory 'because of political reasons'.

Published 25 August 2016
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The San Leon Energy/PetroMaroc study at the Zag block in occupied Western Sahara is delayed and the partners are penalized by Moroccan authorities. PetroMaroc's future is hanging by a thread.

Published 18 August 2016
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Kosmos and Cairn have renewed their licence - but did San Leon Energy abandon one of its licences? A new map from ONHYM suggests changes to the highly controversial oil exploration in the occupied territory.

Published 31 July 2016

The Canadian company undertook a airborne study of occupied Western Sahara on behalf of the occupying power.

Published 31 July 2016

The Canadian company Sander Geophysics has been deeply involved in controversial airborne seismic studies in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 31 July 2016