Western Sahara News

Tower Resources plc (“Tower”) is pleased to announce that together with Wessex Exploration PLC (“Wessex”), the “Joint Venture Partners”, it has signed with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (“SADR”) an Assurance Agreement (“AA”) for a Production Sharing Contract (“PSC”) for the Imlili Block which is located offshore the territory known as the Western Sahara.

Bir Lehlou (liberated territories), Oct 31, 2011 (SPS) - A Source of the Saharawi governments categorically refuted Monday the news published by French Press Agency (AFP) claiming “the existence of an armed branch of Al-Qaeda in the Saharawi refugee camps helped to kidnap the European cooperators.” The source affirmed to SPS that the “Saharawi government refutes the existence of Al-Qaeda in the Saharawi refugee camps,

Shaheed Al Hafed (Saharawi refugee camps), Oct 31, 2011 (SPS) - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, Mr. Hany Abdel-Aziz, assured Sunday the UN organization “will continue to supporting the Saharawi refugees,” after he was received at headquarters of the Saharawi Republic by the Prime Minister, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar. In his speech to the national media, Mr. Abdel-Aziz confirmed that the recent terrorist operation targeting European cooperators

Algiers , Oct 31, 2011 (SPS) - Representatives of institutions, associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of different countries participating in the second International Conference of Algiers on the People’s right to resistance: case of the Sahrawi people reasserted Sunday their determination to stay in the Sahrawi refugee camps and to continue supporting the Saharawi refugees despite the kidnapping of the three humanitarian aid workers.

Moroccan authorities expelled a Member of the European parliament Sunday from the airport of Laayoune, the capital of Western Sahara, because of his positions in favour of the Polisario Front. Moroccan authorities expelled a Member of the European parliament Sunday from the airport of Laayoune, the capital of Western Sahara, because of his positions in favour of the Polisario Front.

BAMAKO , Mali—A Malian parliament member says three European aid workers kidnapped more than a week ago from Algeria are now in Mali. Ibrahim Ag Mohamed Assaleh said Monday the hostages are being held by a faction of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. Gunmen kidnapped the aid workers -- two Spaniards and an Italian -- from a refugee camp in Algeria just before midnight on Oct. 22.

Al Qaida chief killed by air strike in Mali was plotting suicide attack CAIRO — A senior Al Qaida operative has been killed in Mali. Mauritania has reported the killing of a leading operative of Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. The operative was identified as Tayeb Ould Sidi Ali, said to have planned several attacks in Mauritania since 2008.

(ANSA) - Rome , October 31 - Four people with suspected links to Al-Qaeda have been arrested in Algeria over the kidnapping of an Italian and two Spanish aid workers a week ago. Rossella Urru, who comes from Sardinia, and her Spanish colleagues, Ainhoa Fernandez Rincon and Enrico Gonyans, were abducted on October 23 from the Rabuni refugee camp in southwestern Algeria.

Human Rights by region Middle East and North Africa “We want both: the freedom to work and the freedom to speak. Instead, I got beaten.” Walid Malahi, who was beaten by Tunisian riot police during an anti-government protest, speaking to Amnesty International researchers in Tunisia. 2010 dawned with Yemen an unusual focus of international attention following an alleged terrorist incident. It closed with many eyes transfixed by the emergent people’s power in Tunisia and the chain reaction it was setting off elsewhere in the region. Both involved suicide – the first, an alleged suicide bomber aiming to kill passengers on a commercial jet; the second, the self-immolation by a young man in despair at his lack of work or opportunity and worn down by political repression.

BAMAKO — An Italian and two Spaniards who were kidnapped in Algeria a week ago, are alive and being held by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a mediator told AFP after contact with the kidnappers. "The three European hostages are alive. It is one of the kidnappers, a member of AQIM, who gave us this information," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They said they will make their demands later, but for now the hostages are well and alive."

Algiers , Oct 30, 2011 (SPS) - “Algeria will remain committed to the principle of supporting the inalienable right of Sahrawi people to self-determination,” said Saturday in Algeria capital Kamel Rezzag-Bara, founder member of the Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (CNASPS). “Algeria will continue to supporting the fundamental right of the Saharawi people to self-determination through free, just and fair referendum,” Mr. Bara told Algeria Press Agency APS

Algiers , Oct 30, 2011 (SPS) - The participants of the 2nd international conference on peoples’ right to resistance: case of the Saharawi people have reiterated their absolute support and solidarity with the struggle of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence, demanding UN speed intervention to stop the suffering of the Saharawi people, which lasted for decades.

Algiers , Oct 30, 2011 (SPS) - The President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, has met heads of delegations participating in the 2nd international conference on the peoples’ right to resistance: case of the Saharawi, held on October 29-30, 2011 in the Algerian capital. The Saharawi President informed the participating delegations about the latest developments on the question of Western Sahara especially ongoing negotiations course, human rights violations in the occupied territories and Moroccan looting to the Saharawi natural resources.

February 27th School (Saharawi refugee camps), Oct 30, 2011 (SPS) - The V edition of the International Art Encounter in Western Sahara (known as: ARTifariti) held from Oct 05 to 30 concluded its works Sunday in the Saharawi refugee camps, by a firm determination of the participants to continue support the just cause of the Saharawi people. “We hope that we can celebrate ARTifariti in the Free Western Sahara,” said the artists who thanked by the Saharawi people for their solidarity. On other hand, they expressed hope that European aid workers, who were kidnapped by terrorist group, would be liberated sooner.

Algiers , Oct 30, 2011 (SPS) - “The African Union still supports the people of Western Sahara in their struggle for their right to self-determination,” said Saturday in the Algerian capital the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Ms. Bience Philomena Gawanas. In a speech to the press during the 2nd International Conference on the Peoples’ Right to Resistance: case of the Saharawi People, Ms. Gawanas said “I come to Algeria to express the solidarity of the African Union and peoples with struggle waged by the Saharawi people for independence.”

The widely accepted “land for peace” paradigm for peace with Syria entails great military risks and may invite aggression against Israel, while the potential political dividends of a peace treaty are limited. Moreover, the status quo, based on a defensible border, is both sustainable and preferable to any alternative. Even without taking into consideration current political volatility in the region, retaining the Golan Heights is more important than a peace treaty. Therefore, Israel should adopt a new paradigm for relations with Syria–a “peace for peace” formula, even if peace is unlikely to emerge any time soon. INTRODUCTION Ever sinceSyria’s loss of the Golan Heights toIsraelin the June 1967 War, this strategic area has been a bone of contention between the two states. Immediately after the war,Israeloffered to withdraw from theGolan Heightsin exchange for a peace treaty but was rebuffed. Subsequently,Israelbegan to establish a civilian presence, and in December 1981 decided to ext...

Russia has contributed $22 million to the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, Ivory Coast and in Darfur, Sudan. According to UN figures, 232 Russian peacekeepers, including police officers, military advisors and soldiers, are currently engaged in five UN-sponsored peacekeeping operations in Western Sahara, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo and in Haiti. (TASS)

By Matthew Russell Lee UNITED NATIONS , October 26 -- A briefing on Western Sahara had been promised in the UN Security Council on October, but got pushed back to the 26th to be after Morocco's October 21 election to a Council seat in 2012-13. As envoy Christopher Ross gave his briefing, behind closed doors, a Council diplomat left, telling Inner City Press that, "as usual, nothing surprising."

Algiers , Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, underlined Saturday that the kidnapping of the three European aid workers from the Saharawi refugee camps “is a terrorist act targeting the Polisario Front and Saharawi people,” renewing strong condemnation to this cowardly attack. “This is a criminal act targeting the Polisario Front and aiming to increase pain of the Saharawi people who have and still suffer the Moroccan state terrorism and its crimes against humanity since its occupation of Western Sahara”

An international conference around the theme "Peoples’ Right to resist: Case of Saharawi people," opened Saturday in Algiers in the presence of Saharawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz and delegations from all continents. In the conference, President Mohamed Abdelaziz has called on the international community to exert pressures and impose sanctions on Moroccan government to compel it to stop impeding the organization of a referendum on the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Azzedine Ait El Hara Sahrawi President, Mohammed Abdelaziz, vowed on Saturday to work on liberating the three Western aid workers who were kidnapped in refugee camp in Tindouf, south west of Algeria, on 22 October. At the sidelines of the 2nd International Conference on the Right of Peoples to Resistance: The Case of Sahrawi People, being held in Algiers, Mr Abdelaziz said the Republic of Western Sahara is committed to counterterrorism treaty of the African Union, and yet is due to work on freeing the aid workers as soon as possible.” 1200 participants representing 30 countries attended the conference.

That’s the straight-forward message of this latest campaign video from Greenpeace, which highlights the fact that EU subsidy monies have found their way to fishing companies with a history of illegal activity. In one incidence, a Spanish company received €15 million between 20o2 and 2009, despite several of their crews being convicted for fishing without a license, misinformation or obstructing inspections. Illegal fishing is a serious problem, because it makes it impossible to manage Europe’s falling fish stocks. It’s also a vast problem, in global as well as European waters. According to the Greenpeace investigation team, “up to 49 per cent of the global catch is illegal, unreported and unregulated, and this is one of the main reasons why our fisheries are in such rapid decline.” Subsidising fishing fleets that harvest at unsustainable levels is bad enough. Paying taxpayer’s money to those who are known to be breaking the law is quite another. Take a minute or two to watch the ...

By John Fox-Clinch Oil industry veteran David Bramhill has summarised in typical style what he described as significant progress for Wessex Exploration, the Bristol-based hydrocarbon exploration company. He said in his chairman's annual statement for the year to June 30: "There is no in-between status in the speculative world of oil exploration – it is a make or break situation."

In Abu Dhabi International Film Festival not only North African films are celebrated because they have an Arab cultural connection, but also South Africans do have a chance to be awarded. This is what the fifth edition held from October 13th to 22nd showed this year. Last October 21st, two winners of this big Arab film venue were South Africans.

Following the kidnap of three humanitarian workers from Sahrawi refugee camps on the southern Algerian border, Konstantina Isidoros is sceptical about Morocco’s narrative about who is behind the attack. Following Pambazuka News’ recent special Issue feature on the Western Sahara , a fresh political storm has broken out over the Western Sahara conflict, with the kidnapping of three humanitarian aid workers from the Sahrawi refugee camps on the southern Algerian desert border near Tindouf, during the night of last Saturday 22 October 2011.

Sahrawi refugee camps have been ‘safe from any kind of security problems for the last three decades’, writes Malainin Lakhal, arguing that Morocco could be behind the recent kidnapping of three humanitarian workers, in an attempt to challenge the Sahrawi national project and terrorise Western Sahara’s supporters into stopping their humanitarian aid and political efforts. Surrounding the efforts to locate the two Spaniards and the Italian nationals, kidnapped last Saturday 22 October 2011 from the Sahrawi refugee camps by an unidentified group, the Spanish minister for Foreign Affairs, Trinidad Jimenez, paid a sudden visit to Morocco

Peace efforts between Morocco and Western Sahara rebels have hit a deadlock with a UN envoy unable to organize new talks between the rivals, diplomats said after a Security Council meeting. The Polisario Front's UN representative said Morocco was refusing to come to talks. Diplomats who attended the Security Council meeting on the disputed territory said Morocco had pleaded the case that elections this month meant it could not come to more talks until next year.

The kidnapping, Sunday, October 23, three Europeans in the Sahrawi camps in Tindouf could quickly become a new source of tension between Algiers and Rabat. On Tuesday, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs has clearly engaged the responsibility of Algeria in the kidnapping. “It is the responsibility of a State and is Algeria which has primary responsibility,”

The Polisario Front has urgently called on the EU to intervene in order to put an end to the acts of repression and killing in Western Sahara. “We reaffirm our urgent and official call on the European Union to immediately intervene for putting an end to the acts of repression and killing,” said Mr. Mohamed Sidati, minister delegate in charge of Europe, in a letter addressed Thursday to the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Catherine Ashton. 

The National Association (Italian) of solidarity with the people of Western Sahara (ANSP) condemned with “the strongest terms” the day before the abduction of three European aid workers in the Sahrawi refugee camps near the town of Tindouf in Algeria, said Monday, the Italian NGO, in a statement received Rome. In the night from Saturday to Sunday, Rossella Urru, an Italian national, member of the Italian NGO CISP, Aino Fernadez corner of Spanish nationality, member of

New York (UN), October 25, 2011(SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO is extremely concerned that the Security Council has allowed the Kingdom of Morocco to obstruct the many recent efforts by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to reinvigorate the peace process, underlined the Polisario Front in a Letter Monday to the President of the UN Security Council. Below is the full text of the letter sent Monday by the Representative of the Polisario Front to the United Nations, Mr. Boukhari Ahmed, to the President of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent

Al-Qaeda-linked operatives kidnapped several European aid workers from a refugee camp in western Algeria late on 22 October 2011. The assailants — part of the regional al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group — abducted the one Italian and two Spanish nationals in a midnight attack on the Rabuni Camp. Refugee camp workers alleged that the assailants arrived in vehicles from the direction of the Mali-Algeria border.

MADRID (Xinhua) — It was reported on Monday that the two Spanish and one Italian charity workers who were kidnapped in Algeria on Saturday night by a group thought to be linked to al Qaeda were taken to somewhere in Mali. The Spaniards, Ainhoa Fernandez and Enric Gonyalons and the Italian, Rosella Urru, were taken from a refugee camp close to the town of

The General Secretariat of the Polisario Front welcomed at a session chaired by the Saharawi President, Mohamed Abdelaziz,” unanimously “recorded during the Commission work of the UN decolonization around the people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The National Secretariat of the Polisario Front welcomed in a statement,

After the kinaping of Italian aid worker Rossella Urru, at Sahrawi refugee camp in Tindouf, south west of Algeria, the Director of the Rome based International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP), Paolo Dieci, is to arrive to Algeria in a couple of days to follow closely the issue. The Italian hostage is a worker at the CISP. She was kidnapped on Sunday with two other Spaniard aid workers, identified as Ainhoa Fernandez de Rincon from a pro-Sahrawi organisation in Extremadura, western Spain, and Enric Gonyalons who was working with Basque non-profit group Mundubat. The Africa Area Manager at the CISP, Debora Ritsoli, told Echorouk reporter in a phone call that Mr Dieci is to arrive to Algiers within the three coming days. He should be accompanied by his assistant in charge of Africa Programmes, Ms Ritsoli added.

Chief of Staff Salah Gaid inspects” the plan of the army “to control the border in Tindouf The Chief of Staff of the PNA, Salah Ahmed Gaid, began yesterday in the wilaya of Tindouf a visit that was scheduled for several days, during which he will visit units of the Army stationed at the border, as part of the efforts of the Ministry of Defence to secure the border strip from Mauritania to Libya.  The chief of staff will receive reports on the effectiveness of measures put in place for operational side of the plan of “urgency” of the army of border control, in light of developments on the front on the border with Libya. The sources said the Ministry of Defence said it was necessary to review the work of the military throughout the border area to avoid an “imbalance” of the military performance after the transfer of a large number of military and logistics at the Algerian-Libyan border.

According to statements by a member of the terrorist group led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, alias Khaled Abul Abbas, the latter who is, along with another group led by "B. M.," aka Lamine, in Mali, in the region of "Tagherghar"; he would have received three attractive financing proposals in recent months after the outbreak of the revolt in Libya. The proposed funding came from France, Morocco and Libyan parties whose identities were not disclosed, according to statements of the terrorist who confirms being informed by Belmokhtar and Lamine in person.