Dozens of Sahrawi women recently gathered in Dakhla to protest the dire living conditions imposed by systematic Moroccan policies of starvation and marginalization. This courageous demonstration highlights the severe hardships faced by indigenous Sahrawi communities, despite residing in a region rich in resources, now drained to benefit the Moroccan state while denying local rights.
Stolen Resources, Deprived Population
Dakhla, a city in Western Sahara, is renowned for its vast marine wealth and newly discovered gold deposits. However, these resources fail to benefit the Sahrawi people and are instead exploited by Moroccan authorities for their own gain:
- Fisheries Exploitation: The region boasts one of the world’s richest fisheries. Reports indicate that nearly 91% of fishing activities in Western Sahara fall under dubious agreements between Morocco and the European Union, with no tangible benefit for the local Sahrawi population.
- Mineral Wealth: Recently, gold and other resources have been extracted at an increasing rate, with revenues entirely diverted to finance Moroccan settlement and control over the territory.
Hunger as a Weapon of Control
The Moroccan government has deliberately used starvation and exclusion as tools to suppress dissent among Sahrawis. In Dakhla, these policies are especially evident, as locals are denied employment opportunities and basic economic support.
- Exclusion of Sahrawi Youth: Most jobs in the fishing and mining sectors are allocated to Moroccan settlers, leaving Sahrawi youth with limited prospects and widespread unemployment.
- Systematic Starvation: Access to essential goods and economic support is tightly restricted, creating worsening conditions for families.
Sahrawi Women Take the Lead
Sahrawi women, among the most affected by these practices, have risen to the forefront of protests. Their demonstrations in Dakhla reveal growing awareness and refusal to accept the Moroccan state’s oppressive tactics.
A Call for International Solidarity
These grassroots movements emphasize the urgent need for global intervention to halt the exploitation of Western Sahara’s resources and support the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. The United Nations, European Union, and international human rights organizations must hold Morocco accountable for plundering the region’s resources and violating the rights of its indigenous people.
The Sahrawi community calls on the world to listen to their plight and stand with them in their fight against Moroccan occupation, which continues to exploit their land while leaving them in poverty.
