April 2013

Rabat, April 5, 2013 (SPS) - French President Mr. François Hollande has announced from Rabat that his country supports a political and mutually agreed upon solution to the question of Western Sahara on the basis of UN resolutions.


“France supports the initiative of UN Secretary General to find a political and mutually agreed upon solution on the basis of UN resolutions,” said Mr. Hollande, in a speech before Moroccan parliament on Thursday.

Gothenburg (Sweden), April 4, 2013 (SPS) - A delegation represents the POLISARIO Front attended yesterday, Wednesday, the opening session of the congress of Swedish Social Democratic Party, taking place from 3 until 7 April 2013, at the invitation of the Party, informed POLISARIO representation.


The delegation includes Ms. Fatma Al-Mehdi, Secretary General of Saharawi Woman Union, and Mr. Aliyen Kentawi, POLISARIO Representative to Sweden.

Addis Ababa, April 4, 2013 (SPS) - President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mr. Girma Wolde-Giorgis reiterated Wednesday his country’s position of support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, when Mr. Laman Baali presented his credentials to Ethiopian President as an extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Saharawi Republic in Ethiopia.

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - Bureau of the Saharawi National Council has expressed concern over the appalling condition of Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails, especially the group of Gdeim Izik, in a statement concluded a meeting on Wednesday.


The statement conjured up the situation of Saharawi citizens in occupied Western Sahara following the blind repression wave carried out by Moroccan occupation forces against the unarmed masses of Saharawi people.

Tiznit (Morocco), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - The Saharawi activist Al-Hasan Mohamed Lehsen started Wednesday an open hunger-strike in the Moroccan prison of Tiznit, to demand better living and health condition as well as to protest the prison administration’s failure to respond to his legitimate demands, according to the Ministry of Occupied Territories and Communities Abroad.


The Saharawi activist ought to see the gastrointestinal and throat doctor on Tuesday.

New York, April3, 2013 (SPS) - Human Rights Watch called Monday on the French President Mr. François Hollande exert pressure on Morocco to respect human rights in Western Sahara and in Morocco, in a statement published on its website.


Human Rights Watch indicated that Mr. Hollande should raise ongoing human rights concerns in his meetings with Moroccan officials, including torture in detention, unfair military trials, restrictions on free expression rights, and the vulnerability of child domestic workers.

Zag (south Morocco), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - Moroccan occupation authorities arrested on Tuesday three Saharawi students in the city of Zag, south of Morocco, after they participated in the burning of the so-called Bachawya more than a month ago, informed the Ministry of Occupied Territories and Communities Abroad.


The three students are; Ahmed Abd Addaiam, Mohamed Ali Abd Addaiam and Ali Balgiz.

Algiers, April 3, 2013 (SPS) - Algerian Minister of Justice Dr. Mohamed CHARFI has reiterated Algeria’s position of support to the right of Saharawi people to self-determination and establishing an independent state in line with international legitimacy resolutions, when he received on Tuesday at headquarters of the Algerian Justice Ministry Mr. Bah Dih Chikh Mohamed, Saharawi Minister of Justice.

Algiers, April 3, 2013 (SPS) - “The situation in the Sahel region makes a settlement of Western Sahara conflict more urgent than ever,” the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross said Monday in Algiers.


“The dangerous situation in the Sahel region and its vicinity makes a solution more urgent than ever,” Mr. Ross told reporters following a meeting with the Algerian President Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Paris, April 2, 2013 (SPS) - Several international organizations of human rights have called for the cancellation of the convictions handed down by the Moroccan military court in Rabat on February 17th, 2013 against 25 Saharawi political prisoners, known as Gdeim Izik group.


In a joint statement, these associations called for “immediate” release of Saharawi human rights activists, adding that a new legal action will be taken.

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - The Council of Ministers urged Tuesday the French President François Hollande, on the occasion of his upcoming visit Morocco, to convince Moroccan party to stop its gross violations of Saharawi human rights, in a statement concluded a meeting on Tuesday chaired by the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.

Boujdour (refugee camps), April 3, 2013 (SPS) - The Spanish writer Carlos Martín presented Tuesday in the Wilaya of Boujdour, Saharawi refugee camps, his book “the Oasisi of Memory”, in the presence of the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the POLISARIO Front Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.


The book deals with the gross violations of human rights being perpetrated by Morocco since 1975 to the dismantling of Gdeim Izik camp on November 2010.

Bir Lehlou (liberated territories), April 2, 2013 (SPS) - “The position of France towards the Saharawi question is an obstacle to peace and security,” said Tuesday the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, noting that it was never too late to revise this position.

Algiers, April 2, 2013 (SPS) - The President of the Algerian Republic Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika received in Algiers on Monday the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross, as part of a regional tour.


The mee was held at the Djenane El Mufti’s residence in the presence of Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel.

New York, April 2, 2013 (SPS) - Human Rights Watch published Monday, in its website, a report condemning the martial trial of 25 Saharawi political prisoners, known as Gdeim Izik group, calling on Moroccan authorities to grant them “a new and fair trial before a civilian court.”

Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), April 1, 2013 (SPS) - “Since the death of Hassan II in mid-1999, we had the impression, day after day, that we are engaged in a partnership for peace, but without a partner,” stated the President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, in an open letter addressed Saturday to the King of Morocco.

Nouakchott, April 1, 2013 (SPS) - An international network of support to Western Sahara was established Sunday evening in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, according to a statement of the Network.


The network is a popular independent organization which aims at raising awareness about the Western Sahara issue inside Arab countries, as well as to mobilize public support for the Saharawi people, who have been struggling for the independence of his country for four decades, said the statement.

Algiers, April 1, 2013 (SPS) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria Mr. Mourad Medelci received Monday morning at foreign ministry HQ the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross, as part of a tour in the region.


Immediately after his arrival to Algiers on Sunday, the UN Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross held talks with the Algerian Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Mr. Abdelkader Messahel.