February 2015

Tiznit (Morocco), Feb 5, 2015 (SPS) - The Saharawi prisoner, Abdelhay Cheihb, on Tuesday died while being held in the Moroccan jail of Tiznit, after his state of health severely deteriorated due to medical negligence by the Prison’s administration, said CODESA.


While in prison, Abdelhay Cheihb had suffered from several illnesses, without being put under intensive care.


In turn, the prison’s administration refused to undertake any medical examinations.

Algiers, Feb 5, 2015 (SPS) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, on Tuesday called upon the international community to intensify its efforts to stop the flow of the Moroccan drugs to the countries of North Africa and the Sahel.

Algiers, Feb 4, 2015 (SPS) - Algeria and Benin have reaffirmed their support to the efforts of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy Christopher Ross, in finding a political solution guaranteeing the Sahrawi people’s self-determination, said a joint communiqué published Wednesday at the end of Beninese president Thomas Boni Yayi visit to Algeria.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), February 04, 2015 (SPS) -Members of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) met on Tuesday in the occupied city of El Aaiun with a Basque delegation, according to a source of CODESA.


Coming from the city of San Sebastián, the delegation is composed of Mr. Juan Carlos Izagirre, Mayor of the Municipality of San Sebastián, and Mrs. Samira Gaudi , technician human rights department and Ms. Cristina Brasine.

Copenhagen, Feb 4, 2015 (SPS) - The Danish ONG “Afrika Kontakt” has indicated that the organization of Crans Montana Forum in the occupied city of Dajla, Western Sahara, will cause “harm” to the UN attempts to negotiate a solution to the conflict.
 

“We are incredulous that Dakhla, should be a part of Morocco, when it is internationally recognized that Dakhla is in Western Sahara and is occupied by Morocco,” stated a letter sent to Crans Montana Forum Board by head of Afrika Kontact Secretariat, Morten Nielsen.
 

Mijek (liberated zones), Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - Two people were injured in Blu-63 cluster bomb blast that took place Monday in the liberated zone of Mijek (buffer zone), said Saharawi Mine Action Coordination Office.


Ahmed Dailul, 27 years, was injured at the level of his chest and Badi Sidahmed, 22 years, at the level of the left hand.


The incident is the second of its kind in less than ten days.

Algiers, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - Saharawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek said Tuesday in Algiers that the Sahrawi people and government expected the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara and the Security Council Christopher Ross to accelerate the holding of the self-determination referendum in Western Sahara "in full transparency, freedom and democracy.”

El Aaiun (occupied territories), Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - Court of Moroccan occupation in the occupied city of El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, has sentenced to one year in prison the Saharawi political prisoner, Abdelfatah Dalal.


This heavy judgment was pronounced by a court that lacks the minimum requirements for a free trial.

Madrid, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - Secretary for Relations with Civil Society at the Spanish Party “Podemos”, Mr. Rafael Mayoral, has renewed his party’s “absolute solidarity” with the just struggle of the Saharawi people, in a meeting with Polisario Front Delegate to Madrid Mr. Abdallahi Arabi.


Mr. Mayoral also criticized Spanish authorities’ intention to force the Saharawi activist Hasana El-Wali to leave Spanish soil.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), Feb 3, 2015, (SPS) - Moroccan occupying authorities have banned a group of Saharawi citizens from claiming peacefully their civil and political rights, which is a violation of human rights and the international charter and norms.


In this regard, Moroccan security forces, in plain clothes and uniform, blocked a peaceful demonstration by a group of Sahrawi women, in solidarity with the Saharawi political prisoners.

Algiers, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - The decision to hold Crans-Montana Forum in the occupied city of Djhla, Western Sahara, next March is a “violation” of the international law, said Tuesday in Algiers Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek.


“We denounce again the decision to hold Crans-Montana Forum in an occupied Sahrawi territory, which is a violation of the international territory,” Ould Salek told a press conference held at the Sahrawi Embassy in Algiers.

London, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - Western Sahara Campaign UK indicated, in a letter to the UN Security Council, that the ongoing exploration operations carried out by Morocco in compliance with foreign companies off Western Sahara shores “threaten security and stability in the region and constitutes stumbling block to self-determination referendum in Western Sahara.”

Addis Ababa, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, has praised the decisions and the declaration adopted by African Heads of State and Government at the end of their 24th Summit, held in Addis Ababa on 30-31 January 2015.


In statements to SPS, Minister Ould Salek underlined that the Summit affirmed the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, and voiced concern over the continued Moroccan occupation of the Saharawi Republic, a founding member of the African Union (AU).

Paris, Feb 3, 2015 (SPS) - A Saharawi delegation, composed of Polisario Front Representative in Paris Mr. Omar Mansour and Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Mohamed Moulud Mohamed Fadel, on Monday received by Mr. Mr. Julian Lobrito, head of the French People’s Aid Organization.


At the meeting, Mr. Lobrito expressed happiness to hold such a meeting, voicing readiness of his organization to collaborate with various partners in order to develop initiatives for the benefit of Sahrawi children.

Occupied El Aaiun, February 02, 2015, (SPS)- the Coordination of Saharawi Human Rights Activists in the occupied city of El Aaiun called the International Community to find a mechanism, in order to monitor and report on the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Madrid, February 2, 2015 (SPS) - A group of Spanish activists from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Jaén, Vitoria and Madrid, launched Friday hunger strike at Madrid airport in protest of extraditing  Saharawi activist of human rights Hasenna Alia to El Aaiun, Western Sahara, where he would be jailed for life by the Moroccan authorities.

The sympathizers demand granting him political asylum which the Spanish Interior Ministry has been reluctant to.

Addis Ababa, February 1, 2015 (SPS) - The African Union has launched Saturday in Addis Ababa, a call to member countries and organizations not to participate in the Crans Montana Forum, scheduled in the occupied city of Dakhla, Western Sahara, in March, considering it a violation of international law.

 Below is the full text of the declaration of the 24th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held from 30 to 31 January 2015 in Addis Ababa:

“ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION

Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Session

Rabat (Morocco), February 1, 2015 (SPS) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has confirmed the lack of improvements in human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara during the year 2014, in its World Report 2015.

“There were few tangible improvements in human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara during 2014, either in law or in practice”, HRW said Thursday in the 656-page world report, 25th edition, reviewing human rights practices in more than 90 countries.

Addis Ababa, February 1, 2015 (SPS) - Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Omar has held meetings with several heads of state and government participating in the XXIV AU summit.

He held meetings with distinguished guests such as presidents the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Prime Minister of Algeria, Abdelmalek Sallal.

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), February 1, 2015 (SPS) - The in-coming Chairperson of the African Union, President of Zimbabwe, H.E. Robert Mugabe, stressed in his acceptance speech in front of the 24th Assembly of Heads of States and Governments held at the organisation’s headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, that “Africa’s failure to decolonise Western Sahara would be a negation to African ideals and principles”.