Western Sahara News

STUTTGART, Germany, December 16, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A media delegation from Algeria and Mauritania wrapped up a five-day visit to U.S. Africa Command, Friday, December 13, 2013. While at the Stuttgart, Germany-based combatant command, the 13 journalists received in-depth briefings on how AFRICOM operates. On the first day of their visit, the delegation was welcome to Germany by AFRICOM’s Deputy Command for Military Operations, Lieutenant General Steven Hummer who encouraged the guests to ask questions and learn as much as possible about the command’s mission. Over the next five days, the journalists received an avalanche of information on health and humanitarian activities, maritime operations, exercises conducted on the African continent, special operations forces, and the chaplain’s program. There were also opportunities for some sightseeing, taking a tour of downtown Stuttgart to visit a Christmas market and a road trip to Ramstein Air Base to tour t

ALGIERS – The participants in the 4th international conference of solidarity with the Sahrawi people affirmed Saturday in Algiers that it is "time" for the international community to "efficiently" put pressure on Morocco for the organization of a "free and democratic" referendum allowing the Sahrawi people to decide about their own destiny. In this regard, General Secretary of the Belgian Committee of solidarity with the Sahrawi people, Hilt Teuwen, said in her intervention during debates, that "facing the persistence of the government refusal to stage a referendum, it is time for the international community increases pressure on Morocco to move to inescapable and inevitable solution." The Belgian Human Rights defender said that the Sahrawi people "deserve a response to their just and legitimate claim." As for him, Lebanese Academic Walid Arbid, regretted that the Sahrawi issue "is still suspended while it dates ba

A graphic indication of unsustainable commercial fishing was conveyed by two environmental watch organizations, Greenpeace and Western Sahara Watch, have revealed severe unsustainable practices by Moroccan commercial fishing vessels who were seen dumping tons of sardines overboard into ocean waters off the Western Sahara . Unsustainable commercial fishing for species like Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean seriously affect the fate of species like the Bluefin tuna . Over all declines in fish populations in the word’s oceans are just one symptom of oceans spiralling downwards and threatening life on earth . The indicated fish dumping occurred in November by a fishing vessel named Adrar. It revealed massive dumping of the sardines because the vessel’s owners were “not happy with the size of the sardines.” Western Sahara Resource Watch added that this vessel alone has dumped as much as 1,000 tons of dead fish back into the ocean this year alone.

We cannot tolerate this cruelty and injustice For 38 years the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco has been largely ignored by the rest of the world. The reasons for this aren't profound. It's sparsely populated, difficult to get to, and not particularly strategically important. It is also one of the greatest moral failures in the international community's modern history. In 1975, in violation of a World Court judgement, Morocco invaded the former Spanish colony and effectively annexed it. The people who lived in the territory, the Sahrawi, fled in their thousands as their villages were burned and livestock slaughtered. Tens of thousands were driven into refugee camps across the border with Algeria where they remain to this day, surviving as best they can on pitiful levels of humanitarian aid. Those who stayed in their homes face severe repression in a police state which maintains an armed force over 100,000 strong for a population of just 500,000.

On Friday, June 22, 2012, the occupation authorities have released Abdelmoutalib Sarir, a young Saharawi political prisoner. He had spent a month in the black prison on the charge of attack on apolice officer. On the occasion of the release of Abdelmoutalib, aged 26, his family and friends have organized a feast.In effect, for the family and friends, it is a known fact that this kind of accusation is brought by the police when they come upon resistance during their attacks on the Saharawi activists. In the morning, the occupation forces have surrounded the house of the family.The feast was held in the afternoon, during which slogans in favour of self-determination and independence of Sahara were shouted and the flag of the Saharawi Republic was lifted. After the reception, the guests left and some of them have been attacked by the Moroccan police. According to witnesses, the police raged against the journalists and activists. Hayat Rguibi, aged 23 and member of the EM team was with

Saharawi of Algeria Saharawi refugees fled Western Sahara to neighboring Algeria after a Moroccan invasion followed the withdrawal of Spain, the colonial power, in 1975. They have largely had refugee status since that time, making the Saharawi story virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. The Saharawi are descendents of the original tribes in Western Sahara and Morocco. Ministry Obstacles The Saharawi live in areas that are very difficult for outsiders to access, and they have few Christian neighbors. Outreach Ideas Sustained prayer will be essential to provide the Gospel message to these people. The Jesus film and Gospel recordings could be offered via television and radio. Pray for the followers of Christ There may be a few believers among the Saharawi. Pray for them, and for the believers that will come later. Pray they will mature into real disciples of Jesus Christ, serving Him with a whole heart. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Saharawi will soon be ab