Mahjoub Maliha of CODESA (Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders) speaks to Peoples Dispatch on the developments since last November in Western Sahara and the way ahead for the Saharawi struggle for self-determination

While official statistics suggest the North African country does not suffer with hunger, the reality is a different story covered up by lack of reliable data and social stigma

The European Court of Justice had issued similar verdicts in 2016 and 2018, stating that the Western Sahara region cannot be considered as part of Morocco in such trade agreements

Relations between the two countries have been souring for the last couple of years. One month before closing the airspace, diplomatic ties between the countries had been terminated

Two of the country’s main liberal parties emerged as the biggest parties in the 395-member parliament in the provisional results announced on Thursday by the interior minister

The elections are being held under the 2011 constitution. Many sections of society, including the Democratic Way party, have pointed out that the process promotes a fake democracy and enshrines tyranny

Eight leaders from the left organization the Democratic Way were arrested over the weekend in protests calling for democratization and a boycott of the elections

The decision comes amid escalating tensions over many issues between the two countries, including Western Sahara, Morocco’s relations and support for Israel, and Morocco’s alleged backing of Algerian separatist groups

Soulaimane Raissouni’s trial has been called “unfair” and one of the many “arbitrary and abusive prosecutions” by the Moroccan authorities against journalists critical of the government

Raissouni was held in pre-trial detention for more than a year before he was eventually convicted and sentenced to five years in prison on sexual assault charges following a trial termed “flawed” and “not justice” by human rights groups

Radi was arrested in July 2020 on charges including sexual assault and espionage, which have been termed as politically motivated by rights groups. His colleague Imad Stitou was also convicted for “participation in rape” and sentenced to one year in prison

The Polisario Front, which is fighting for independence of Western Sahara from Morocco, claimed that allegations of war crimes against chief Brahim Ghali are Morocco’s attempts to discredit the movement