Strasbourg (European Parliament) 09 October 2025 (SPS) –Sahrawi Ambassador and Chairperson of the Committee in Charge of Natural Resources and Legal Affairs, Oubi Bouchraya Bachir, strongly condemned the newly endorsed European Union–Morocco trade agreement, describing it as a “flagrant and frontal violation” of international law and of the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding Western Sahara.
Speaking to RT TV Today, Oubi said that the agreement disregards the CJEU’s clear position that “Morocco and Western Sahara are distinct and separate territories” and that “Morocco has no sovereignty over the territory.” He added that any agreement involving Western Sahara’s natural resources requires the explicit consent of the Sahrawi people through their legitimate representative, the Frente Polisario.
“We denounce this new agreement, which was secretly negotiated with Morocco for months, without any explicit mandate from the Council or the consent of the Sahrawi people,” said Oubi. “The European Commission has sidelined both the European Parliament and the legitimate representatives of Western Sahara, reproducing the same practices that led the Court of Justice to annul previous agreements.”
The ambassador accused certain EU member states, particularly France, of influencing the decision in disregard of international legality, saying this attitude “encourages Morocco to continue its defiance of the international community and to finance its military occupation of Western Sahara.”
Amb. Oubi confirmed that the Frente Polisario intends to challenge the deal once again before the European Court of Justice, lamenting what he described as “very little to no respect” for the Court’s binding rulings within the EU institutions.
“We thought that once the judges took their decision, everything would be clear and respected. Unfortunately, it is evident now that the European Union prefers to look the other way,” he stated.
When asked about the growing number of Western countries that appear to support Morocco’s autonomy proposal, Ambassador Oubi refuted the notion, saying that the Moroccan media exaggerates international backing for Rabat’s plan.
“The reality is that the autonomy proposal, presented since 2007, has failed to gain traction because it violates the fundamental principle of self-determination,” he said. “It seeks to impose Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara before consulting its people.”
He reiterated that the only legitimate and lasting solution to the conflict is to allow the Sahrawi people to freely determine their future through a referendum, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the UN Charter.
“We have consistently warned the international community, and especially the UN Security Council, that the only safe and just way to settle the conflict is through a genuine and transparent expression of the will of the Sahrawi people,” he insisted. “We are surprised and saddened that some Western countries, who claim to champion democracy, are violating their own principles in Western Sahara by supporting Morocco’s occupation and human rights abuses.”
The interview concluded with Ambassador Bachir reaffirming the Sahrawi people’s determination to continue their legitimate struggle through legal, diplomatic, and peaceful means until justice, independence, and self-determination are achieved. (SPS)
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