Claude Mangin Denied Access to Morocco's Territory
On October 12, 2026, Claude Mangin, the wife of Naâma Asfari, a Sahrawi prisoner sentenced to 30 years for his involvement in the deaths of eleven Moroccan security personnel during the dismantlement of the Gdim Izik camp in Laâyoune in November 2010, was barred from entering Morocco by authorities at Marrakech Airport. Mangin, a French national, was accompanied by Philippe Bouyssou, the communist mayor of Ivry-sur-Seine, and Claire Delmotte, a mission officer in the mayor's office. Their intended destination was Kenitra Prison to visit Asfari, who is currently incarcerated there.
Upon their arrival, Mangin was informed that she could not enter the country, while her companions were granted permission to remain in Morocco. This incident is not the first of its kind; on May 31, 2025, Moroccan authorities had similarly prevented Mangin and several Polisario sympathizers from entering the port of Tangier while they were aboard a ferry from Algeciras, Spain, on their way to Kenitra Prison.
These recurring events highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding Sahrawi activists and their families, particularly in light of Morocco's contentious stance on the Western Sahara issue. Mangin's attempts to visit her husband, who has been a significant figure in the Sahrawi movement, have been met with strong resistance from Moroccan officials, reflecting the broader geopolitical complexities and human rights discussions within the region.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
