Geneva (UN Human Rights Council) – June 18, 2026 — Mahfud Bechri, a prominent member of the working group focused on Human Rights in Occupied Western Sahara and the official representative for NOVACT, vehemently criticized the Moroccan government's oppressive tactics during a recent event at the ongoing 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. His remarks centered on the severe information blockade imposed by Morocco, the illegal appropriation of land for green energy initiatives, and the alarming frequency of drone strikes aimed at Sahrawi civilians residing in the occupied territories.
During this crucial side event, Mahfud presented insights from the newly published report titled "Western Sahara: A Year in Review, 2025 Annual Human Rights Report," which was collaboratively developed by the working group along with international organizations including ACAPS and NOVACT. He emphasized that Morocco's strategies not only involve economic exploitation but also leverage advanced military technology to solidify its illegal occupation of Western Sahara, all while operating under a veil of impunity.
Mahfud drew attention to a systematic campaign orchestrated by Moroccan authorities, aimed at concealing their human rights abuses from the global community. This campaign has fostered an atmosphere of fear that significantly curtails civic engagement and freedoms. Since 2014, the Moroccan government has expelled no fewer than 329 international observers, with recent incidents involving the removal of Basque parliamentarians, a delegation of European Parliament members, and Spanish journalists.
In a pointed critique, he called out European nations, particularly France and Spain, for their tacit complicity in the ongoing conflict, highlighting their silence in the face of these violations. He accused the European Commission of breaching international law and disregarding European Court of Justice rulings by entering into unlawful commercial agreements with Morocco that implicate the occupied territory, questioning the commitment of Europe to its core values of democracy and human rights.
Shifting focus to military developments, Bechri underscored the devastating consequences of Moroccan drone technology in liberated areas situated east of the military wall. According to data from the Sahrawi Mine Action Coordination Office, between 2020 and 2025, drone strikes have claimed the lives of 310 civilians, further highlighting the urgent need for international intervention.
A significant theme in Mahfud's address was the ongoing exploitation of Sahrawi natural resources under the pretext of fostering green development, attracting international investment, and promoting global tourism. He pointed out that Morocco’s green hydrogen strategy, which has garnered backing from anticipated investments from the United States, is facilitating the transfer of Sahrawi land to foreign corporations without obtaining the necessary consent from the Sahrawi populace. This practice blatantly contravenes the stipulations reaffirmed in the European Court of Justice ruling from October 2024. Mahfud specifically named major corporations such as Acciona, ACWA Power, TotalEnergies, and the French entity Engie as key players in these controversial green hydrogen projects.
He also raised concerns regarding a recent agreement between Morocco and the United States regarding the extraction of seabed minerals off the coast of Western Sahara, labeling it a direct infringement on the Sahrawi people's inalienable rights to their natural resources. Furthermore, he cautioned that the international promotion of Dakhla as a tourism and investment destination is not merely an isolated initiative, but part of a broader strategy to normalize and economically fortify the ongoing occupation through cultural, sports, and artistic endeavors that obscure the realities of military domination.
In his concluding remarks, Mahfud urged the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to address the chronic lack of effective accountability mechanisms. He called upon the international community to ensure independent access to the territory for journalists and human rights observers while also safeguarding Sahrawi natural resources from systematic exploitation by both Morocco and multinational enterprises. He concluded by asserting that the protection of the human rights of the Sahrawi people, including their fundamental right to self-determination, must remain at the forefront of all discussions regarding the future of Western Sahara.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
