New York (United Nations), 11 June 2026 (SPS) - Dr Sidi Mohamed Omar, Member of the National Secretariat, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO, addressed today a letter to Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations and current President of the UN Security Council, in which he expressed the Frente POLISARIO’s strong condemnation of the recent criminal acts carried out by Morocco against Sahrawi civilians.
The following is the full text of the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Sahara Press Service (SPS):
New York, 11 June 2026
H.E. Ms. Leonor Zalabata Torres
Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations
President of the Security Council
Your Excellency,
I would like first to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of June and to wish you every success in your mission.
It is with great concern that I write to you to urgently draw your attention and the attention of the Members of the Security Council to the continued crimes perpetrated by the Moroccan occupying forces against Sahrawi civilians in Western Sahara.
On the morning of 5 June 2026, the Moroccan occupying forces attacked a group of Sahrawi civilians using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and long-range artillery. The attack took place in the region of Gleibat El-Foula in Western Sahara and resulted in the complete destruction of civilian vehicles and severe material damage. The investigation team of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) visited the site and investigated the attack.
The Frente POLISARIO strongly condemns the recent criminal acts targeting Sahrawi civilians, which mirror the methods employed by the Moroccan occupying forces in their war of aggression against the Sahrawi people.
Since its violation of the ceasefire on 13 November 2020, the Moroccan occupying forces have been using all types of lethal weapons, including UAVs, to deliberately kill dozens of innocent civilians not only from Western Sahara, but also from Algeria, Mauritania and nationals of other countries while in transit through the Liberated Sahrawi Territories.
All the reports of the Secretary-General, which were submitted to the Security Council in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 respectively, report dozens of “aerial and other strikes” carried out by the “Royal Moroccan Army”, which caused “civilian casualties” and “material damage”. Those cases represent only what MINURSO was able to document.
The Frente POLISARIO stresses once again that the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects constitutes a war crime in line with the Statute of the International Criminal Court. It is also a violation of the rules of international humanitarian law applicable in international armed conflicts.
Morocco, the occupying state, must therefore be strongly condemned and held accountable for its continued crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law and international law in Western Sahara. All those who have expressed their deep concern about the targeting of civilians are now called upon to uphold this exact same stance in this case because international humanitarian law must be applied universally without exception, selectivity, or double standards.
The recent Moroccan criminal acts were carried out while the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara was visiting the region. This calculated move blatantly demonstrates that Morocco, the occupying state, intends to sabotage the ongoing efforts to revive the UN-led peace process in Western Sahara and push for further military escalation.
The Security Council cannot afford to remain silent in the face of the Moroccan destabilizing actions, which threaten regional peace and security.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Dr Sidi M. Omar
Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO
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