The Western Sahara oil curse
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Big oil’s interest in occupied Western Sahara has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Some companies are now drilling, in complete disregard of international law and the Saharawi people’s rights. Here’s what you need to know.
Published 06 November 2015


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It is unseen: a country is carrying out a large-scale oil exploration programme outside of its national borders. When that happened last time, under Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor, the activities were widely condemned and universally acknowledged as illegal.

Yet, this is precisely what Morocco is doing now in Western Sahara. But this time, the entire international community looks away.

Western Sahara is often called the last colony of Africa, and the UN treats it as such; as a Non-Self Governing Territory without an administering power in place. The people of Western Sahara, the Saharawis, have an internationally recognised right to self-determination; the right to decide the future status of the land and its resources.

The Saharawis have time and again spoken out against the oil development in their occupied homeland. Their voices are ignored by Morocco, the international community and the oil companies that choose to side with Morocco, who all seem to put profit over people.

Read up on big oil in Western Sahara, and find out what you can do to help put an end this injustice.

SRI update

The following overview enlists stock-exchange registered companies with current or recent operations in occupied Western Sahara. Updated 12 September 2025.

12 September 2025

Skretting Turkey misled about sustainability

Dutch-Norwegian fish feed giant admits using conflict fishmeal from occupied Western Sahara. Yesterday, it removed a fake sustainability claim from its website.

11 September 2025

Beware of products carrying a “GGN” code

Tomatoes from occupied Western Sahara, certified by GLOBALG.A.P., are being sold in German grocery stores with a false country of origin.

05 September 2025

Farmer in exile: GLOBALG.A.P. is certifying injustice

A Saharawi refugee farmer expresses shock about the German certification scheme qualifying Moroccan agriculture in his illegally occupied homeland as sustainable. 

03 September 2025