Western Sahara Resource Watch

Sander Geophysics did mapping in occupied Western Sahara

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

Published 31 July 2016

Goldak Airborne Surveys in controversy in occupied Western Sahara

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

Published 31 July 2016

Kosmos cites political arguments to operate in Western Sahara

Kosmos gives geopolitical arguments to operate in occupied Western Sahara, while Cairn Energy refuses to answer why it operates in what they call "Morocco". WSRW has sought clarifications from the duo.

Published 18 July 2016

See how the controversial plantations boomed in the desert

Based on assessments of satelite images, WSRW has calculated how the plantations in occupied Western Sahara developed from 2003 until today.

Published 18 July 2016

WSRW concerned over increased Agrium imports

Western Sahara Resource Watch has requested further clarifications from the Canadian company Agrium, which is importing phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 11 July 2016

World's largest wealth fund drops Cairn and Kosmos over Western Sahara

Norway's sovereign wealth fund has today announced it has excluded Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy from its portfolios because of their oil search in Western Sahara. Approx. 54 million dollars of shares were sold.

Published 28 June 2016

WSRW demands Polish state oil company to leave Western Sahara

WSRW lauches today a report on the Polish oil company PGNiG, and demands it to abandon its project. WSRW asks its owners to intervene.

Published 28 June 2016

Wave of divestments over Western Sahara

In recent months, several investment firms have relinquished their interests in companies that are involved in the natural resource exploitation of occupied Western Sahara. Here are 21 of them.

Published 27 June 2016

Moroccan group to intervene in EU Court case about occupied Sahara

A Moroccan umbrella association that claims the EU Court of Justice has never suspended the Western Sahara trade, is now to intervene in the EU Court to support the annulment of the suspension (which the association never believed occurred in the first place). Confused? We are too.

Published 24 June 2016

Check out Cairn Energy's geography failures

Cairn Energy consistently includes occupied Western Sahara as part of Morocco.

Published 23 June 2016

Confirmed: these 5 countries intervene against Saharawis at EU Court

The EU Court has now officially confirmed that five EU Member States will intervene in favour of Morocco in the proceedings to reverse the Court’s decision to halt imports from occupied Western Sahara through a trade deal with Morocco.

Published 22 June 2016

Controversial Polish oil search stopped due to strike

When over 100 of the locally recruited staff stopped working, the Polish oil hunt in occupied Western Sahara had to temporarily close.

Published 22 June 2016

Total officially states it has left Western Sahara

"The contract was not extended in December 2015", company writes on website. It has also confirmed that it has "no plans" to return to the territory, which lies in the part of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation.

Published 21 June 2016

Danish shipping company Ultrabulk caught red handed

The day after Danish parliament urged all companies to stay away from occupied Western Sahara, a Danish vessel arrived Canada with phosphates rock taken from the territory.

Published 19 June 2016

Russia signs new fisheries deal for occupied Western Sahara

The Russian and Moroccan governments on 15 March 2016 announced the renewing of their fisheries agreement, allowing Russian trawlers fish in occupied Western Sahara. WSRW has translated the agreement from Russian to English.

Published 13 June 2016

EU Member States to intervene against Western Sahara in EU Court

A handful of EU Member States will intervene in the European Court proceedings in favour of Morocco, asking the Court to reverse its decision to cancel the EU-Morocco trade deal in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 09 June 2016

Polish company undertakes seismic studies in occupied Western Sahara

The Polish seismic services company Geofizyka Kraków ignored warnings and started seismic studies for oil exploration in occupied territory.

Published 09 June 2016

EU Commission alters Morocco fish deal subject to Court proceedings

Is it appropriate for the European Commission to change an agreement that is under judicial review?

Published 08 June 2016

Paradeep: new client of Sahara conflict phosphates?

It rarely happens that vessels transport phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara to India. However, an 8 million dollar consignment is at present being offloaded in port of Paradip.

Published 03 June 2016

PotashCorp ignores its owners, buys massive cargo from Western Sahara

Only three weeks after nearly a third of its shareholders had requested a human rights review of its imports from occupied Western Sahara, the Canadian fertilizer firm PotashCorp is expecting a giant shipment of phosphate rock from the occupied territory.

Published 03 June 2016