London, 15 July 2025 (SPS) – The Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) has denounced the selection of the occupied Sahrawi city of Dakhla as the site for Morocco’s new data center, calling it a violation of international law and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
"Establishing a data center of this scale in occupied territory without the consent of the Sahrawi people amounts to a usurpation of Sahrawi land, disguised as technological progress," said Sara Eyckmans, a WSRW representative, in a statement.
While Morocco promotes its "digital sovereignty," it continues to "violate the very principle of sovereignty when it comes to the Sahrawi people," Eyckmans lamented.
"No solar panels or green branding can hide the reality: this project is being developed on militarily occupied land," she added.
According to WSRW, the project aligns with Morocco’s broader strategy to "attract international tech companies through incentives like tax breaks and exemptions."
"Behind the sleek façade of green energy and ‘technological advancement’ lies a troubling truth: the data center is planned for occupied territory without the consent of the Sahrawi people, whose right to self-determination is enshrined in international law," the NGO stated.
WSRW reiterated that the United Nations classifies Western Sahara as a "non-self-governing territory" and that Morocco’s purported "sovereignty" over the region has been rejected by international courts and is not recognized by the UN or the vast majority of the international community.
"The scale of the Dakhla project raises serious concerns. Data centers require vast land and major infrastructure—roads, power lines, fiber optics—which could irreversibly alter the landscape and entrench Morocco’s occupation," warned WSRW.
The NGO urged all investors and companies involved in Morocco’s data infrastructure to "exercise caution and avoid complicity in projects located in occupied territory."
"International jurisprudence has established that Western Sahara is a territory distinct and separate from Morocco, and that economic activities there require the consent of the Sahrawi people," WSRW emphasized, citing multiple rulings by the EU Court of Justice.
As the world moves toward an increasingly digital future, WSRW called on governments, investors, and businesses to "ensure that innovation does not become a tool for deepening injustice in Western Sahara."
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