Morocco's Continued Pursuit of Territorial Claims in Western Sahara
Despite the clear rulings from European courts regarding the distinct and separate nature of the territory of Western Sahara, Morocco continues its efforts to assert claims over maritime waters that do not belong to it. This assertion is particularly evident at the 'Seafood Expo Global', an international fishing fair currently taking place in Barcelona, where Morocco is seeking to legitimize its extractive ambitions. The official program of the event reveals that nearly thirty Moroccan companies are present this week in Barcelona, all of which are based in coastal cities of Morocco. However, the issue arises with eight of these companies, which claim to originate from Sahrawi cities.
Specifically, two companies identify their origin as Dakhla and six others from Laayoune. This misrepresentation is misleading, as the European Court of Justice dismantled trade agreements with Morocco a year and a half ago, deeming Western Sahara a territory distinct from Moroccan rule. These companies exploit the resources of Western Sahara while passing them off as Moroccan products. Items such as octopus, anchovies, mackerel, and sardines are illegally extracted from the territory, forming part of an economy of occupation that now seeks validation through international fairs.
Legitimization Efforts and International Complicity
The participation of these companies in an international fishing fair is not coincidental. For years, Morocco has pursued a legitimization strategy that involves attracting foreign companies to Western Sahara, ensuring that their activities tacitly support the ongoing occupation. This strategy extends beyond the fishing industry to include sectors such as renewable energy, phosphates, sand exportation, and green hydrogen production. According to Roberto Cantoni from the organization Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), once a foreign company engages in commercial activities in an occupied territory, it becomes resistant to any changes in the status quo, as such changes would jeopardize their economic interests.
At events like 'Seafood Expo Global', the Moroccan regime finds opportunities to continue its erasure of Sahrawi identity and rights. WSRW has noted that several Spanish companies are already trading in products that Morocco extracts from Sahrawi territory while representing them as their own. It is likely that additional agreements of this nature will be finalized during this week's event.
The jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice clearly states that European companies cannot engage in business that considers Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Thus, collaborations with the eight companies participating in 'Seafood Expo Global', which claim Dakhla and Laayoune as Moroccan cities, would be unlawful.
However, Cantoni expresses concern over the European Commission's lenient attitude toward companies that violate these regulations. Moreover, Morocco offers favorable tax conditions to attract foreign businesses, making it tempting enough for them to disregard European legal precedents. "It is illegal for European companies to operate in those territories, but there is also an internal struggle among European governance institutions," he summarizes.
Although the Polisario Front has reached out to the event organizers requesting the suspension of participation from the eight companies profiting from Sahrawi resources, no response has been received. Abdulah Arabi, their representative in Spain, has urged both 'Seafood Expo Global' and the participating companies to respect international law. Nonetheless, the event organizers have so far ignored the Polisario's demands.
Thus, despite the clarity of international law regarding the ownership of these waters, it appears that Morocco continues to circumvent existing legislation in its pursuit to assimilate the territory of Western Sahara as its own.
As reported by elindependiente.com.
