Western Sahara: Hisn Al-Mateen Bloc condemns Moroccan escalation and urges the Security Council to act

Hisn Al-Mateen Bloc expresses its deep concern over the serious developments in the Western Sahara question, amid continued systematic violations and military escalation by the Moroccan occupying state against the Sahrawi people, in blatant defiance of international legitimacy and of the fundamental principles of international law on peoples’ right to self-determination and the rejection of all forms of occupation and colonialism.

Following closely the official letter addressed to António Guterres by His Excellency President Brahim Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, the Bloc affirms that the situation in the region reflects a political deadlock caused by the Moroccan occupying state’s continued intransigence, its refusal to engage seriously in the UN settlement process, and its reliance on force and security solutions at the expense of dialogue and rights.

The Bloc condemns in the strongest terms:

• the continued Moroccan occupation of Sahrawi territory, in violation of Western Sahara’s status as a decolonisation issue on the UN agenda since 1963;
• the breach of the ceasefire on 13 November 2020 and the ongoing military escalation that has made the situation akin to open war, with Morocco bearing full responsibility for its humanitarian and political consequences;
• the targeting of innocent civilians and the use of heavy military means and drones, constituting grave violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes;
• disinformation aimed at obscuring the reality of the conflict and of the occupation, contrary to the principles of transparency and justice recognised by the United Nations;
• the illegal exploitation of the Sahrawi people’s natural resources, in disregard of peoples’ right to own their resources.

The Bloc stresses that these practices pose a direct threat to the security and stability of the Maghreb and the African Sahel, fuel tension and frustration, and further complicate the humanitarian and political situation, especially given the fragile circumstances of neighbouring countries.

In this context, the Bloc calls on:

• the United Nations and the Security Council to shoulder their full legal and moral responsibilities, in line with their repeated positions affirming Western Sahara as a decolonisation issue;
• serious and considered action to enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with UN resolutions, including those of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on Decolonization;
• stronger mechanisms for monitoring violations and ensuring accountability, protection of civilians, and respect for their right to freedom and dignity.

Hisn Al-Mateen Bloc, which brings together political, civil and security forces from the Sahel and North Africa, renews its steadfast support for just liberation causes on the African continent and its commitment to defending peoples’ rights and rejecting all forms of occupation and neo-colonialism, affirming that justice in Western Sahara is the key to lasting regional peace.

Issued on 10 May 2026 — President of Hisn Al-Mateen Bloc, Djelloul Chetouane