26 Saharawi organisations ask Total to leave Western Sahara
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While French oil company Total is exploring for oil off occupied Western Sahara, 26 Saharawi civil society organisations ask the company to cease its activities. “We, the signatories of this statement are against the presence of Total in Western Sahara. We urge the company stop all research and leave immediately”, they write in a statement issued yesterday.
Published 08 February 2013


Total has signed a reconnaissance contract with the Moroccan government for a massive block offshore occupied Western Sahara. The name of the block is Anzarane Offshore, and measures an astounding 100,926,70 sq.km.

But the rightful owners of the territory and its abundant resources, the Saharawi people, now ask the company to lay down its exploration work. In a statement signed by organisations representing the vast majority of Saharawi civil society groups in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, in the refugee camps in south-west Algeria and in Total’s home country France, they express their opposition to Total’s presence in their occupied land.

“Their presence and actions support the colonisation, and this is the opposite to what the UN aims to achieve through its Special Envoy HE Ambassador Christopher Ross”, the statement reads. “We, the signatories of this statement are against the presence Total in Western Sahara. We urge the company stop all research and leave immediately.”

“The company did not ask for permission, nor has it received permission, either from the liberation movement representing us before the United Nations, or from our part, civil society and Saharawi people.”

Two months ago, the exiled government of the Western Sahara Republic had protested Total's activities in Western Sahara, without their approval. WSRW is not aware of the government having received any reply.

In 2001, Total – then TotalFinaElf – signed a licence for the exact same area. This act promted the UN Security Council to ask its Legal Office for an opinion of the legality of the company's agreement with Morocco. The legal office concluded it would be in violation of international law if the exploration and exploitation continued in the disregard of the wishes and interests of the people of the territory.

Total paid near 4 million to occupier for oil block

The French company Total paid the Moroccan government near 4 million US dollars for the Anzarane exploration licence offshore Western Sahara, under illegal occupation.
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"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.

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Norwegian investor excluded Total due to Western Sahara involvement

The Norwegian insurance company Storebrand has blacklisted both phosphate and oil companies involved in occupied Western Sahara. Among them are the French company Total, which are now back in from the cold after they withdrew from the territory.
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Total has left occupied Western Sahara

The French multinational oil company has announced that it is no longer pursuing oil search offshore Western Sahara. "More good news for the Saharawi people. We urge the remaining oil companies to follow suit", stated WSRW.

21 December 2015