Spain’s betrayal of the Saharawi people and their struggle for full independence has been met with outrage by the people of Western Sahara and Spain alike. Babouzeid Mohamad Said Labbihi, the president of the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) spoke to Peoples Dispatch about the impact of the move as well as the ongoing campaign of persecution and human rights violations faced by Saharawi activists and people. Said Labbihi declared that “It is a violation of international humanitarian law, and encourages the Moroccan occupation to commit crimes against humanity and war crimes against Sahrawi civilians in the occupied part.”
Despite the setback in their struggle for self-determination, the Saharawi people have vowed to continue their struggle and demand that the United Nations and the international community respect their agreements.
