Madrid (Spain), 13January 2026 (SPS) – Sahrawi activist and human rights defender Hassena Douihi revealed that the human rights situation in the occupied Sahrawi territories is experiencing a serious deterioration as a result of the systematic repressive policy pursued by the Moroccan occupation forces.
He noted that Sahrawi activists live under close surveillance and constant threat because of their positions in support of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
In an interview on the program “Mon Possible” broadcast by Spanish public radio, Douihi affirmed that merely expressing an opinion peacefully or taking part in a protest vigil may expose individuals to arbitrary arrest, physical assault, or judicial prosecution. He stressed that this reality reflects the Moroccan occupation’s determination to silence all voices calling for freedom and independence in Western Sahara.
In the same context, the Sahrawi activist pointed out that repression is not limited to arrests alone, but also includes the deployment and use of Moroccan security reinforcements inside the occupied Sahrawi cities, foremost among them the occupied city of El Aaiún, as part of tightening security control and instilling fear among Sahrawi civilians.
He added that these practices constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and United Nations resolutions, particularly the right of peoples to self-determination. He further noted that what is taking place in the occupied territories is occurring amid troubling international silence and continued disregard for the suffering of the Sahrawis under occupation.
On the other hand, Douihi emphasized that Sahrawi human rights organizations, including the Sahrawi Body against the Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM), continue to document violations and submit them to international bodies despite the restrictions and risks faced by their members. He considered that human rights activism has become one of the most important tools for confronting Morocco’s policy of repression and erasure.
He also drew attention to the suffering of thousands of Sahrawis divided between exile, refugee camps, and the occupied territories, where families are deprived of their most basic rights in the absence of any just solution that guarantees the Sahrawi people their inalienable right to independence.
The Sahrawi activist concluded by affirming that the resilience of the Sahrawi people and their peaceful struggle will continue regardless of the length of the occupation, calling on the international community and free media to break the wall of silence and assume their legal and moral responsibilities toward Africa’s last colony.
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