African Union asks Morocco not to sign Western Sahara deals
Article image

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union this week asked its new member, Morocco, to not carry out further exploration and exploitation of the natural resources in Western Sahara.

Published 23 March 2017

A meeting in the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) on 20 March 2017 addressed the issue of Western Sahara. The council stated its preoccupation over the situation in the territory. Morocco, since this year a member of the union, failed to show up at the meeting.

The PSC issued a thorough statement of the resolution on the conflict.

The council refers to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU, calling the decision "important", and requests Morocco to halt further exploitation of the territory: 

"Stresses the urgent need to address the issue of the illegal exploration and exploitation of the Territory’s natural resources, bearing in mind the call made in the UN Secretary-General’s report of 10 April 2014, for all relevant actors, in the light of the increased interest in the natural resources of Western Sahara, to “recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount”, in accordance with Chapter XI, Article 73 of the Charter”, as well as in line with the many legal opinions and judgments issued by international and regional Organizations on the issue. In this respect, Council urges the Kingdom of Morocco not to enter into contracts for the exploration and exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources"

The PSC statement can also be downloaded here


 

SRI update

The following overview enlists stock-exchange registered companies with current or recent operations in occupied Western Sahara. Updated 29 July 2025.

29 July 2025

Brussels and Rabat explore loopholes to sidestep Court rulings on Western Sahara

Secret talks in Brussels suggest EU and Moroccan trade representatives may be preparing to bypass international law on Western Sahara.

29 July 2025

Complaint filed: Carrefour “fraudulently” markets conflict tomatoes

Spanish farmers and a consumer rights watchdog have filed a formal complaint with their national consumer authorities, accusing French retailer Carrefour of deceptively marketing Azura-brand tomatoes from Western Sahara as “Moroccan”. 

28 July 2025

Voltalia hides Western Sahara controversy from reports?

The French renewable company no longer includes its wind farm in occupied Western Sahara in its public financial reporting. 

21 July 2025