GNV News, October 18, 2024

On October 4, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union handed down a ruling that the trade agreement concluded in 2019 between the EU and Morocco is invalid because it was concluded without obtaining the consent of Western Sahara. The decision indicates that the agreement, concluded without the consent of the people of Western Sahara, violates the right to self-determination. While Morocco condemned this, the Polisario Front, which claims governing authority in Western Sahara, and activists welcomed the ruling.

The trade agreement on agricultural and fishery products concluded between the EU and Morocco in 2019 includes the territory of Western Sahara within its scope. Although Western Sahara is a member state of the African Union, Morocco has occupied most of its territory since 1975. Repression of independence activists and the displacement of residents continue.

Learn more about Western Sahara → “A region like a country but not a country: Western Sahara — A major issue remaining in northwestern Africa“

Learn more about the conflict in Western Sahara → “Africa’s largest colony: Western Sahara“　

A port town in Western Sahara occupied by Morocco (Photo: jbdodane / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])