Joanna and Kristina were on their way to El Aaiun, the capital of occupied Western Sahara, when the bus was pulled over at one of the many checkpoints on the roads to the city. They were asked to step out. According to young women, the police told them that "they are not welcome". The police then drove them to Agadir, in Morocco.
Joanna Allan and Kristina Nygaard had traveled to Western Sahara to study the concerning human rights situation of the Saharawi people and to learn more about the activities of Kosmos Energy and other companies involved in the natural resources exploitation.
"This is just another symptom of the Moroccan-enforced Western media blackout in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, companies such as Kosmos and Cairn Energy continue in their attempts to exploit the misery of the Saharawis", says Joanna Allan, Board Member of WSRW.
Kristina Nygaard, member of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara, adds: "The complete lack of transparency has made me even more curious as to what is happening in the occupied territories. The deportation only increases my motivation to dig further into this particular conflict."
Engie paves way for new farmland in occupied Western Sahara
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European Parliament approves updated Morocco aviation agreement… without Western Sahara
The law is settled, but the practice is not. The recently adapted aviation deal excludes Western Sahara - yet the European Commission still tolerates EU airlines operating there regardless.
Trial underway over firebombing of WSRW partner in Denmark
A trial has begun in Copenhagen against four men accused of carrying out the January 2025 arson attack on the offices of WSRW partner Global Aktion.
Heidelberg Materials deepens its role in Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara
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