Banjul (The Gambia), May 16, 2026 (SPS) – The Sahrawi National Commission for Human Rights (CONASADH) has participated in the 87th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, held in the Gambian capital, which is dedicated to examining and assessing the human rights situation across the African continent.
Within the agenda item concerning the state of human rights in Africa, the CONASADH coordinator in Europe, Mr. Hassan Emelid, delivered a statement before the plenary session. He briefed members of the African Commission, representatives of member states and governments of the African Union, national institutions, and international and civil society organizations on the latest developments regarding the Sahrawi issue.
The Sahrawi official warned of the extremely serious human rights and humanitarian situation currently prevailing in the occupied areas of the Sahrawi Republic. He pointed out that this deterioration comes amid the escalation of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Moroccan occupying state following its breach of the ceasefire agreement and military offensive against the Sahrawi people on November 13, 2020.
He added that Moroccan repression forces continue to pursue a policy of retaliation and systematic violations, including violence, torture, arrests, sieges, unfair trials, and ongoing restrictions against Sahrawi human rights defenders, journalists, and activists demanding the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
The Sahrawi coordinator stressed that the human rights situation in the occupied territories is a source of grave concern due to practices that violate humanitarian values, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. He highlighted aspects of the imposed blockade, including a strict media blackout, the expulsion of foreign delegations, restrictions on the establishment of associations, and degrading treatment against Sahrawi political prisoners.
The speaker noted that these violations have been carefully documented in major international reports issued by organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in addition to reports by the U.S. Department of State and several resolutions issued by mechanisms of the United Nations Human Rights Council. He stated that these reports once again underscore the utmost importance of implementing the provisions of African Union Executive Council Decisions 775 and 689, which call on the Commission to visit the occupied territories of the Sahrawi Republic in order to directly assess the reality of Moroccan violations committed without accountability.
The Sahrawi Human Rights Committee urgently called for the opening of a comprehensive investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the occupation authorities, and for ensuring the full release of all Sahrawi political prisoners while guaranteeing their rights as civilians, activists, and journalists to freely express their opinions in accordance with international conventions.
The committee also called for activating the African Commission’s legal and moral responsibility under its continental mandate established in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and for taking practical measures and using African protection mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of the Sahrawi people in the occupied territories.
The statement also reviewed the difficult humanitarian and economic conditions faced by Sahrawi refugees in the camps amid harsh climatic conditions and increasing dependence on humanitarian aid.
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