Western Sahara Resource Watch

States call for Saharawi self-determination in Human Rights Council

Several UN Member States have today recommended Morocco to hold the long-overdue referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara.

Published 02 May 2017

Domino of Spanish regions urge for no Western Sahara trade

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

Reply letter by ContiTech to WSRW, 10 April 2017

Published 28 April 2017

Cargo of salt from occupied Western Sahara arrived in the Netherlands

And a second consignment is apparently on its way.

Published 27 April 2017

Unemployed Saharawis set up protest camp in occupied Western Sahara

“We have no other choice than to set up a second Gdeim Izik protest camp”, disenfranchised Saharawi protesters say.

Published 26 April 2017

San Leon blames security for pause in occupied Western Sahara

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

New report on global phosphate trade from occupied Western Sahara

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

Vigeo Eiris asserts Saharawi consent unnecessary

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

Kosmos/Cairn oil study in occupied waters has ended

The seismic study programme of Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy offshore occupied Western Sahara ended on 12 April.

Published 15 April 2017

Self-immolation by Moroccan sea captain in Dakhla

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

Agrium looks to other sources than Western Sahara

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

Letter correspondence with Atlas Copco, 2017

Published 10 April 2017

Polisario protests Kosmos/Cairn exploration in occupied waters

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

FMC Corp confirms it is no longer into Western Sahara phosphates

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

Unemployed Saharawi youth hi-jacked OCP bus

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

Here is Kosmos Energy's supply vessel in occupied Western Sahara

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

Morocco's P for Politics in Africa

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

Kosmos with extensive seismic studies off occupied Western Sahara

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

African Union asks Morocco not to sign Western Sahara deals

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

WSRW's letter to Atlas Copco, 17 March 2017

Published 23 March 2017

French government dilutes Court of Justice conclusion

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

Spain confirms: EU-Morocco trade deal not for Western Sahara goods

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

New controversial energy infrastructure to be built in Western Sahara

The Moroccan government has opened for a relatively large tender in Dakhla.

Published 17 March 2017

New publication on the EU and Western Sahara

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

Published 16 March 2017

Morocco lobbies for toxic metals in EU agriculture

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

Basque parliament asks companies to stay clear from Western Sahara

A declaration from the parliament of the Basque Country asked its companies to stay away from the occupied territory.

Published 08 March 2017

The Vigeo Eiris shock: from ethics to occupation

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

Glencore steps up oil search offshore occupied Western Sahara

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

Vigeo Eiris silent on its Moroccan approach to Western Sahara

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

Siemens dodges questions on Saharawi consent

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

This cargo from occupied Western Sahara is now to arrive France

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

Published 10 February 2017

Danish company stops salt imports from Western Sahara

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

EU looks to avoid energy imports from Western Sahara

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

Key Bay unloaded all cargo in Fécamp, France

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

A lighter Key Bay is on its way to Ghent, Belgium

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

Here is the Key Bay inside the port of Fécamp

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

Why the Key Bay imports are not in accordance with EU law

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

Key Bay just outside of port of Fécamp

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

Key Bay to arrive in France while complaints to be filed

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

Key Bay appears at Las Palmas horizon

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

Key Bay is now heading to Las Palmas

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

Fresh images: Key Bay inside the port

Photos and video shows Key Bay inside the port of El Aaiun in occupied Western Sahara, loading fish oil.

Published 07 January 2017

First ship to challenge EU Court ruling on occupied Western Sahara

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

Here is the vessel that will transport fish oil to the EU

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

Chinese Geron Energy might take over block in occupied Western Sahara

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