THE NIGERIA Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS) has welcomed the October 4, 2024 European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgement finding European countries guilty of violating the sovereignty of Western Sahara.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Owei Lakemfa, NMLWS’ Publicity Secretary, the activists described the judgement as not only historic, but also the final ruling after several appeals by the European Union (EU) Executive Commission against six previous rulings.
“In those rulings,” the statement further stated, “the court held that the European countries agreements with Morocco to exploit the fisheries, agriculture and natural resources of Western Sahara, are illegal.
“The EJC President, Koen Lenarts presiding over a seven-judge panel, ordered that all such agreements without the consent of the Western Sahara people as led by the POLISARIO Movement, must cease within one year.”
According to the statement, the court had in 2016 and 2018 nullified the EU-Morocco trade and fisheries agreements because Western Sahara, also known as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a “separate and distinct” country from Morocco.
The statement further reads: “The EU and Morocco had sought to circumvent these rulings by amending the agreements to explicitly include Western Sahara. They then purportedly held a stakeholders meeting with Saharawi endorsement. But in 2021, the ECJ again ruled the agreements illegal.
“It reaffirmed that it is impossible for the EU and Morocco to reach agreements which would be applicable to Western Sahara; that such agreements breach the principle of self-determination and, that the required consent of the Saharawi people has not been secured.
“This final ruling came after the ‘Moroccogate’ corruption scandal which rocked the European parliament.
“The NMLWS thanks the ECJ for standing by the truth and advancing social justice.
“We urge the European countries and the European Commission to obey this final judgement of their own court by withdrawing from all Saharawi territories and waters. It is in this wise, we condemn the joint Statement by EU President von der Leyen and High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell threatening to disobey the ECJ judgement. The duo had declared: “In close cooperation with Morocco, the EU firmly intends to preserve and continue strengthening close relations with Morocco in all areas of the Morocco-EU Partnership, in line with the principle of pacta sunt servanda”, meaning, ‘agreements must be kept.’
“We urge the African Union to stand by Western Sahara which is a founding Member of the organisation, by protecting it against Moroccan and Western exploitation.
“African countries should also insist that Morocco obeys the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruling that its occupation of Western Sahara violates the fundamental right of the Saharawi to self-determination. Additionally, they should implement the order of the court which states that all African states have an obligation to assist the Saharawi people gain complete independence.
“The NMLWS appeals to the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel all agreements with Morocco on the importation of phosphate and the natural resources of the Saharawi. It should also discourage Nigerian companies and state governments from doing same.
“We also ask the Nigerian government to suspend forthwith, its agreement to pipe Nigerian gas to Morocco through Western Sahara territory and waters without the express permission of the Saharawi people led by the POLISARIO movement.
“The Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara also appeals to all segments of the Nigerian society including students, youths, women, civil society organisations, professional groups and the mass media, to extend all possible support to the Saharawi People in recognition of their fundamental human rights to be free.
“In this wise, we wish to appreciate the tremendous support and solidarity of conscientious organisations in the country like the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to the Saharawi people.
“Africa cannot be free if one country continues to occupy, militarily repress and violate a sister country such as the Kingdom of Morocco has been doing to Western Sahara since 1975.”
