A document leaked by the Moroccan whistle-blower twitter account demonstrates how Morocco uses the Western Saharan natural resources to embroil other countries into its own illegal occupation of Western Sahara. The case at hand: Russia.
On 21 November, the @chris_coleman24 twitter account, which has been leaking official Moroccan documents for some time now, published a document called "La Fédération de Russie at la question du Sahara Marocain" ("The Russian Federation and the question of the Moroccan Sahara") - a 6-page document devoted entirely to Morocco's geopolitical aim to convince Russia to side with Morocco when it comes to Western Sahara.
Under the header "how to optimise Russia's position", the strategy is outlined. It reads as follows (translation from French to English by WSRW):
"39. To reach this objective, Morocco has to:
a. renew, enrich and diversify its strategic partnership with Russia, the goal being to create significant and structural interests in all areas of cooperation (peace and security, economic relations and investment, weapons, etc)
b. Implicate Russia in activities in the Sahara, as is already the case in the field of fisheries. Oil exploration, phosphates, energy and touristic development are, among others, the sectors that could be involved in this respect
c. Reinforce the dialogue with Moscow on issues concerning Africa and the Arab world; strengthen cooperation regarding spiritual security which is an important challenge for Russia in the Caucasus.
40. In return, Russia could guarantee a freeze on the Sahara file within the UN, the time for the Kingdom to take strong action with irreversible facts with regard to the marocanité of the Sahara."
The document has not been dated, but appears to be quite recent as it includes references to events and other documents of 2013. It reveals what has been clear to observers all along; that Morocco not merely uses Western Sahara's natural resources for financial gain, but to forge political alliances that could help impose Morocco's untenable and unlawful claim over its neighbouring country: Western Sahara.
TAQA-Moeve obtains land in occupied Western Sahara
Morocco’s push for green hydrogen has taken a decisive step forward - on territory it does not legally own.
EU-Morocco Statement: autonomy without self-determination, law without lawfulness
A joint statement that came out of last week’s EU-Morocco Association Council asks readers to believe in a fiction: that an undefined autonomy plan imposed by an occupying power can satisfy the right to self-determination, and that respect for international law can coexist with the systematic ignoring of the EU’s own highest court.
Greenland Yes, Western Sahara No? The EU’s self-determination test
As the European Union rightly rallies behind Greenlanders’ right to decide their own future in the face of external pressure, a test of the EU’s real commitment to self-determination is quietly unfolding in Brussels.
The CJEU Court Cases
Keeping track of the many legal proceedings relating to Western Sahara is not easy. This page offers an overview of the cases concerning the territory that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).