Boumerdès, August 6, 2025 (SPS) – Mr. Ubi Bushraya Al-Bashir, Special Advisor to the President of the Sahrawi Republic and Head of Natural Resources, affirmed that the 2018 ruling by the European Court of Justice, which nullified the fishing agreement between Morocco and the European Union, constituted a clear recognition of the Sahrawi people's sovereignty over its land and sea.
During a lecture on Wednesday as part of the Summer University for Polisario Front and Sahrawi State executives in Boumerdès, Algeria, Ubi Bushraya emphasized that the protection of Sahrawi natural resources is framed by the right to self-determination, just as it underpins the Sahrawi people’s broader struggle for freedom and independence.
The Sahrawi official noted that the legal battle lies at the heart of the sovereignty conflict, with its most significant outcome being the October 2024 ruling. This verdict reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Sahrawi cause and the invalidity of any agreements attempting to bypass Sahrawi sovereignty.
The speaker reviewed the chronology of the legal battle in Europe since 2002, highlighting the court’s pivotal role in affirming that Western Sahara and Morocco are "distinct and separate territories," reinforcing the right to self-determination, and recognizing the Polisario Front as the sole legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. The ruling also mandated Sahrawi consent for any agreements affecting their territory.
Despite the court’s decision, the agreement was renewed in 2019, prompting the Polisario Front to file an appeal in 2021. This led to a new judicial process, culminating in the cancellation of the fishing agreements and the requirement to label all products from Western Sahara with "EH" (indicating the territory’s separate customs jurisdiction). The ruling also established Sahrawi consent as a prerequisite, further solidifying their right to self-determination.
The Sahrawi presidential advisor added that the European Court’s decision reinforced the Polisario Front’s legal standing in defending Sahrawi rights, despite Moroccan attempts to circumvent the ruling.
Additionally, the French Council of State issued a decision mandating that agricultural products from Western Sahara be labeled as "imported from Western Sahara," exclusively listing it as the country of origin—a victory for the Sahrawi people and international justice.
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