The Campaign to End the Moroccan Occupation of the Western Sahara

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Media Announcement/September 7, 2021

            The Campaign to End the Moroccan Occupation of the Western Sahara formally announces its formation as a U.S.-based advocacy coalition in support of the right to national self-determination for the indigenous Sahrawi population of the former Spanish colony.  “Our Campaign is unique in that it crosses partisan boundaries within the USA and brings together a collection of activists, scholars, and celebrities who are convinced not only that the Sahrawis must gain freedom, but that there will be no peace in northwestern Africa until and unless there is self-determination for the people of the Western Sahara,” explained Co-Chair Bill Fletcher, Jr. a long-time labor activist and former President of TransAfrica Forum. 

“While we are very diverse, we share many things in common: we believe in the right to self-determination, that the road to peace and security in North Africa begins with upholding the fundamental freedoms that all people deserve, and the Sahrawi, who have included in their own constitution equal rights for women and other basic freedoms, are deserving of our support,” added Co-Chair Suzanne Scholte, a long time human rights activist and President of the Defense Forum Foundation.

            The formation of the Campaign was catalyzed by several factors, including the Moroccan violation of the 1991 ceasefire accord between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; the reigniting of the armed conflict; and former President Trump’s illegal recognition of the Moroccan occupation.  “We, people of conscience, decided that enough was enough,” said Fletcher and Scholte.  “This is demonstrated by the fact that the Campaign has already attracted  distinguished members from both the left and right.”

            The objectives of the Campaign include:

Overarching Goals

–The withdrawal of Morocco from Western Sahara;

–The transition of authority to SADR, in accordance with the Charter of the African Union;  

–An expeditious return of the Sahrawi refugees and Sahrawi diaspora to their homeland; and

–An end to any U.S. assistance to Morocco that could be used to advance a claim to the Western Sahara or harm the Sahrawi people.

Three Immediate Goals

–Reverse U.S. recognition of Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara by the Trump administration and recognize the Sahrawi Republic;

–Block any military sales or foreign assistance to Morocco that could be used against the Sahrawi and to control the territory; and

–Encourage International Organizations including the ICRC to deploy missions to Moroccan Occupied Western Sahara to ensure the civilian population is protected.

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For more information on the Campaign to End the Moroccan Occupation of the Western Sahara, please visit our website at freewesternsahara.org or email us at freewesternsahara1976@gmail.com.