WSRW has today sent a letter to Dutch-based construction group Archirodon Group NV about its reported decision to set up a subsidiary in El Aaiun, occupied Western Sahara.

Archirodon specialises in port construction, and is quoted in Africa Intelligence as "targeting the port of Laayoune's modernization plans but also the projects of phosphate giant OCP in the region." OCP SA is the Moroccan state-owned phosphate company that exploits the phosphate mine Bou Craa in occupied Western Sahara through its subsidiary Phosboucraa. OCP reportedly has plans to build a new port about 30 kilometers from El Aaiun, the capital city of Western Sahara, in order to handle the production from the Bou Craa site. Archirodon, which has been contracted by OCP before for work in Morocco proper, is said to be eying that particular development.

Archirodon's website so far makes no mention of the new office in El Aaiun. The webpage does include the details for their office in Casablanca, in Morocco proper.

Archirodon Group NV is based in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, but has Greek roots: the firm emerged from the 1959 joint-venture of two Greek construction companies, Archimidis – a marine contractor - and Odon & Odostromaton, specializing in road construction. Archirodon, with its parent company Archirodon Group N.V., registered in the Netherlands in 2000, but has offices, branches and project sites in several countries – and now even in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, without the consent of its people.