The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has denounced what it calls a “systematic policy” by Moroccan authorities to expel foreign journalists from Western Sahara, at a time when the conditions of imprisoned Sahrawi journalists are rapidly deteriorating inside Moroccan prisons.
According to a recent RSF report, more than 100 foreign journalists have been expelled from the occupied territories over the past years, including several Spanish reporters barred from covering the situation on the ground. Among the most recent victims of this crackdown were journalists Leonor Suarez and Oscar Allende, alongside activist Raoul Conde, expelled on July 8, 2025.
RSF described Western Sahara as having become a “media wasteland,” characterized by total censorship, strict control, and a complete ban on access for international journalists and observers, effectively silencing independent coverage.
The report also highlighted the “appalling” conditions endured by imprisoned Sahrawi journalists such as Bashir Khada, Hassan Dah, Abdullah Lkhfawni, and Mohammed Lamin Hadi. These individuals are serving harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, following trials that lacked due process and fair legal guarantees.
RSF confirmed that many of these journalists have suffered torture, ill-treatment, solitary confinement, and denial of medical care under conditions the organization described as “degrading and inhumane.”
The organization called on Moroccan authorities to immediately cease these repressive practices, to allow foreign media access to the region, and to guarantee the rights and protection of local journalists, in line with international standards for press freedom and human rights.
RSF also recognized the role of EQUIP Media as a key resistance media outlet, tirelessly working to expose these violations.
