Paris (France), August 7, 2025 (SPS) – The Western Sahara Analysis Center (CASO) announced on Tuesday its intention to file a lawsuit in France against companies operating illegally in occupied Western Sahara.
In a statement, the center confirmed that "as of January 1, 2026, it will take legal action before French courts as part of its public interest mandate against any company or economic entity that has directly or indirectly contributed to the exploitation of Western Sahara's natural resources—a non-self-governing territory under UN classification—without the free and direct consent of the Sahrawi people."
The center explained that this decision aligns with "the evolving jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice (ECJ)," particularly its ruling on October 4, 2024, which officially states that agreements between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco cannot be applied to Western Sahara without the consent of the Sahrawi people.
Indeed, on October 4, 2024, the ECJ annulled two trade agreements signed between Morocco and the EU in 2019 concerning fisheries and agriculture, which had been illegally extended to include occupied Western Sahara.
In its ruling, the ECJ concluded that "the 2019 EU-Morocco trade agreements on fisheries and agricultural products, which lacked the Sahrawi people's approval, were concluded in clear violation of the principles of self-determination and the relative effect of treaties."
Furthermore, the ECJ reaffirmed that "the Polisario Front meets the necessary conditions to challenge decisions before EU courts in defense of the Sahrawi people's interests."
Accordingly, CASO intends to denounce before French courts any economic activity by French companies or entities operating on French soil related to the illegal exploitation of Western Sahara’s resources (agricultural products, energy, tourism, fisheries, and logistics).
The center also plans to sue these companies for "deceptive commercial practices, violations of peoples' rights, and complicity in plundering," based on French law, European law, and general international law principles.
Additionally, CASO will approach regulatory authorities, particularly in customs control. To this end, the center announced the creation of a "legal and civic monitoring unit" working with lawyers, elected officials, and human rights organizations to document cases and identify the responsibilities of the concerned economic actors.
The center concluded by stating, "The time has come to reaffirm—as law and conscience dictate—that no economic benefit can justify the violation of a colonized people's right to self-determination."
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