New York (United Nations), October 30, 2026 (SPS)– In a new diplomatic blow to the Moroccan occupying state within the corridors of the United Nations, the UN Secretariat allowed the re-launch of the photo exhibition "50 Years, 50 Faces: Sahrawi Exile – A Life of Resilience", extending its display for a new period from October 30 to November 4, 2026, following the collapse of desperate obstruction attempts and pressure led by the Moroccan mission to sabotage it.
The exhibition, organized by Oxfam's New York office in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Algeria, Belize, Namibia, South Africa, Timor-Leste, and Uganda, was officially inaugurated on October 27th, coinciding with the UN Security Council deliberations on Western Sahara.
On October 28, a high-level panel titled "Self-Determination, Humanitarian Responsibility, and the Future of the People of Western Sahara", was also organized as part of the photo exhibition, bringing together diplomats, representatives of international humanitarian organizations, and civil society activists.
However, the usual Moroccan tactics centered on pressure and diplomatic blackmail prompted the UN HQ’s administration to dismantle the exhibition temporarily on October 29 following a complaint. This unacceptable measure met immediate and firm protest and direct diplomatic opposition from the exhibition's sponsoring diplomatic missions to the UN Secretariat, asserting their absolute rejection of dictations and submission to agendas that obstruct freedom of expression at the very heart of UN Headquarters.
Confronted by the steadfast diplomatic stance defending international legitimacy and the rights of the Sahrawi people, the Secretariat reversed its step, reopening the exhibition for an extended run.
The failed Moroccan attempt at censorship backfired completely, drawing heightened attention and doubling the turnout of diplomats and journalists eager to view the fifty documentary photographs and personal testimonies.
The 50 photographs, captured by Sahrawi photographer Adad Ammi, embody the resilience, suffering, and aspirations of Sahrawi women, men, and youth. By combining photographic art, personal accounts, and historical evidence, the exhibition presents the human reality resulting from the prolonged exile endured by the Sahrawi people alongside the broader political context. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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