Wilaya of Smara, February 24, 2026 (SPS) – The 26th edition of the Sahara Marathon began on Tuesday morning in the Wilaya of Smara, the Sahrawi Refugee Camps, with the participation of approximately 200 runners from 16 countries.
Since 2001, the Sahara Marathon has been held annually in the Sahrawi Refugee Camps, with the aim of raising international awareness about the humanitarian, social, and political situation of the Sahrawi people, who suffer injustice, oppression, and forced displacement—whether in the refugee camps, in the occupied territories, or in exile—due to the Moroccan invasion and occupation and the denial of their right to freedom and self-determination.
One of the advantages of this international solidarity marathon is that it allows participants to connect with Sahrawi families and gain firsthand insight into daily life in the refugee camps, as well as directly witness the struggle carried out by the Sahrawi people.
