AGP Executive Report

U.S.-UN Mediation Push: U.S. adviser Massad Boulos met Algeria’s ambassador in Washington, urging Algeria to engage more actively in the UN-backed Sahara track and pointing to UN Security Council Resolution 2797 as support for Morocco’s autonomy plan—amid signs Algeria is recalibrating after losing backing, especially from Russia. France and Ivory Coast Double Down: France again said the “present and future” of the Sahara sit within Moroccan sovereignty, while Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and backed the autonomy plan as the only credible path. Morocco–Algeria Clash at UNESCO: Morocco condemned what it called Algeria’s “provocative behaviour” at UNESCO during Africa Week, escalating a cultural fight tied to the caftan’s UNESCO recognition. Rights Pressure Mounts: The UN Committee against Torture accused Morocco of a consistent pattern of abuse against Sahrawi detainees linked to Gdeim Izik, including torture and coerced confessions, and said investigations failed. Sahrawi Diplomacy and Mine Action: Sahrawis marked the 53rd anniversary of the armed struggle, while an AU mine-action team visited Sahrawi authorities to review clearance efforts.

UN Torture Findings: The UN Committee against Torture says Morocco used torture, coerced confessions and failed investigations in Gdeim Izik-linked Sahrawi cases, describing a “consistent pattern” tied to arrests after the 2010 dismantling of the protest camp. France’s Sahara Line: In Rabat, France’s Jean-Noël Barrot again stressed that the “present and future” of Western Sahara sit within “Moroccan sovereignty,” backing Morocco’s autonomy plan and pointing to UN Security Council Resolution 2797. Diplomatic Push in Africa: Côte d’Ivoire and Dominica publicly reaffirmed support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the autonomy proposal, adding to Rabat’s widening network. Human Rights Outreach: Aminatou Haidar met Sweden’s parliamentary friendship group in Stockholm, urging pressure on Morocco over rights abuses in occupied Western Sahara. Mine Action, AU Role: An AU mine-action delegation wrapped up a mission in the Sahrawi Republic, including a courtesy visit to the Sahrawi Liberation Army chief of staff. Next UN Step: UN C-24’s Caribbean regional seminar in Managua runs 25–27 May, with Western Sahara listed among the non-self-governing territories under the committee’s purview.

UN Torture Findings: The UN Committee against Torture says Morocco used a “consistent pattern” of arbitrary arrests, solitary confinement, torture and coerced confessions against Sahrawi detainees tied to the 2010 Gdeim Izik protest camp, citing beatings, threats of rape, “roasted chicken” stress positions and “falaka,” plus failures to investigate. France Doubles Down: In Rabat, France’s Jean-Noël Barrot reiterated that the “present and future” of Western Sahara sit within Moroccan sovereignty, backing Morocco’s autonomy plan and pointing to UN Security Council Resolution 2797. Diplomatic Push Widens: Ivory Coast and Dominica publicly reaffirmed support for Morocco’s autonomy approach. Human Rights Outreach: Aminatou Haidar met Sweden’s parliamentary friendship group in Stockholm, urging pressure on Morocco over rights abuses and political prisoners. Mine Action: An AU mine-action delegation wrapped up a visit to the Sahrawi Republic, including mine-clearance simulations and a courtesy stop with the Sahrawi army chief of staff. Security Ties: Morocco and the US moved to deepen their military alliance after AFRICOM exercises on Moroccan territory.

France-Morocco Line: France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot doubled down in Rabat, saying the “present and future of the Sahara” sit within “Moroccan sovereignty” and backing Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only path for a negotiated solution. Diplomatic Push: The same week, Rabat and Paris said they’re preparing a treaty to deepen ties ahead of King Mohammed VI’s visit to France. Human Rights Spotlight: The UN Committee against Torture again found Morocco violated Sahrawi detainees’ rights tied to the 2010 Gdeim Izik protests, citing a “consistent pattern” of arbitrary arrests, solitary confinement, torture or ill-treatment, and coerced confessions. Solidarity in Europe: Aminatou Haidar arrived in Stockholm to raise awareness of alleged Moroccan rights abuses, after recent stops in Slovenia’s parliament and universities. Mine Action: An African Union Commission delegation joined a minefield clearance simulation in the Sahrawi Republic, including work led by Sahrawi women experts. Politics Abroad: Ghana-based journalist Kwesi Pratt Jr. criticized the NPP for petitioning the Moroccan ambassador over alleged persecution.

Human Rights Spotlight: The UN Committee against Torture says Morocco’s Gdeim Izik-era detainees faced “a consistent pattern” of arbitrary arrests, solitary confinement, torture or ill-treatment, and coerced confessions used in court—after reviewing four complaints tied to the 2010 dismantling of the protest camp near Laâyoune. Diplomacy Watch: Algeria says France’s support for Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan is “irreversible,” even as Rabat and Paris move ahead with a new treaty to deepen ties ahead of a planned visit by King Mohammed VI. US Position: Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton calls Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara a mistake, urging a return to the 1991 UN plan and a self-determination referendum. POLISARIO Outreach: POLISARIO chief Brahim Ghali sent congratulations to Timor-Leste leaders on independence restoration day, underscoring continued international engagement. Ongoing Process: A Polisario official says UN-led talks under Resolution 2797 are discussing Morocco’s autonomy proposal alongside Polisario options.

UN Peacekeeping: Kazakhstan sent a third peacekeeping contingent to the Golan Heights, with 139 servicemen departing for UN duties that include patrols, ceasefire monitoring, and explosive clearance—while noting Kazakhstan already has 150+ troops in seven missions, including Western Sahara. US–Morocco Messaging: A new US policy framing portrays Morocco as a rising regional power linking Europe and Africa, while the US ambassador in Rabat warns Polisario violence is jeopardizing progress and pushes negotiations around Morocco’s autonomy plan. Sahara Talks Under UN 2797: A Polisario official says informal preliminary talks have started under UN Security Council Resolution 2797, with Morocco’s autonomy proposal being discussed alongside Polisario ideas. Human Rights & Resources: CONASADH urges the African Commission to condemn illegal exploitation of Sahrawi natural resources, as Sahrawi officials and Aminatou Haidar keep spotlighting repression and prisoners in European forums. Diplomacy & Pressure Points: Morocco’s first warship from Spain in 40+ years lands this summer, while Polisario creates a “military office” to monitor compliance with humanitarian law amid growing scrutiny. Sahrawi Culture Abroad: The Sahrawi Republic takes part in Algeria’s tourism fair, using the platform to argue occupation targets Sahrawi identity.

US Diplomacy on the Line: US ambassador Duke Buchan III warned that Polisario violence is drawing “resounding international condemnation” and said it threatens progress in the Sahara peace process, reaffirming Washington’s backing for Morocco’s autonomy plan. Human Rights Spotlight: Aminatou Haidar wrapped up a Slovenia Parliament push with fresh calls for Africa’s “last colony” to be decolonized, detailing alleged repression, disappearances, torture, and the plight of political prisoners in occupied Western Sahara. European Pressure Builds: Haidar’s visit also included seminars and media outreach in Ljubljana, keeping the humanitarian reality and stalled UN track in the spotlight. Regional Security Signals: Morocco received its first Spanish-built warship in over 40 years, a move framed as strengthening maritime surveillance. Diplomatic Thaw Elsewhere: France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin is in Algeria to revive judicial cooperation, with Western Sahara-linked tensions still in the background. Mine Action Focus: An African Union Commission delegation began a technical visit to the Sahrawi Republic to review mine action and explosive remnants of war.

Franco-Algerian Judicial Thaw: France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has arrived in Algiers to restart judicial and security cooperation, with talks focused on extradition, organized crime, and the case of detained French journalist Christophe Gleizes, as Paris seeks a “new chapter” after months of strain tied to Western Sahara. Human Rights Push in Europe: Sahrawi human rights defender Aminatou Haidar landed in Ljubljana and met the Slovenian Parliament, pressing lawmakers on alleged Moroccan abuses, restrictions on freedoms, and the plight of Sahrawi political prisoners. Mine Action Oversight: An African Union Commission delegation is visiting the Sahrawi Republic to review the national mine-action program and explosive remnants of war, including contamination levels in liberated areas. Polisario Legal-Compliance Move: The Polisario Front has created a “military office” to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, a step observers describe as largely symbolic amid rising scrutiny. Diplomatic Signals Beyond the Region: Russia says its stance on the Moroccan Sahara remains unchanged despite abstaining on a MINURSO renewal vote.

Human Rights Push in Europe: Aminatou Haidar told Slovenia’s Parliament that Morocco is suppressing freedoms in occupied Western Sahara, targeting activists, and mistreating Sahrawi political prisoners, while also warning that natural-resource exploitation is being carried out in ways she says violate international law and European court rulings. Mine Action Oversight: An African Union Commission delegation visited the Sahrawi Republic to review the national mine-action program and explosive remnants of war, touring work by Sahrawi women experts and hearing that liberated areas are among the most contaminated in Africa. Diplomacy and Solidarity: Nicaragua and the Sahrawi Republic reaffirmed long-standing friendship tied to the POLISARIO founding; Uniciencia University in Bogotá hosted a human-rights lecture on Western Sahara. International Scrutiny: Sahrawi NGOs criticized Amnesty International’s reporting on the Tindouf camps, accusing it of selectivity and omissions. Culture Spotlight: Polisario representatives promoted Sahrawi culture at Finland’s World Village Festival. Ongoing Media Debate: Javier Bardem’s Cannes film coverage (“The Beloved”) continues to intersect with wider political backlash talk in Hollywood.

Diplomatic Solidarity: Nicaragua and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic marked the POLISARIO Front’s 53rd anniversary with renewed vows of friendship and support, with Nicaragua’s National Assembly leadership linking the Sahrawi struggle to its own fight against expansionism. Human Rights Spotlight: In Bogotá, the Sahrawi ambassador told a university conference that repression of Sahrawi activists continues, pairing the talk with a documentary screening on life under occupation. Cultural Outreach: In Helsinki, the Polisario Front’s Finland representation promoted Sahrawi culture at the World Village Festival while calling for media access and the release of Sahrawi political prisoners, including Gdeim Izik detainees. UN-Process Signal: Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Moscow still backs a U.N.-led solution and existing Security Council resolutions after abstaining on MINURSO renewal. Rights Groups Push Back: Sahrawi NGOs in El Aaiún criticized Amnesty International’s Tindouf-camps reporting, accusing it of selectivity. International Advocacy: CONASADH urged the African Commission to investigate alleged Moroccan war crimes and press for Sahrawi prisoners’ release.

Polisario Outreach: The Polisario Front’s Finland representation took part in Helsinki’s 2026 World Village Festival, promoting Sahrawi culture and pressing the case for self-determination, while highlighting a media blockade in occupied territories and calling for the release of Gdeim Izik prisoners. Diplomatic Signal: In Moscow, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Moscow’s recent UN Security Council abstention does not change its stance: it still backs the UN-led process and hopes talks involving Morocco, Polisario, Algeria, Mauritania and the UN can deliver a peaceful settlement. Rights Pressure: Sahrawi NGOs in El Aaiún hit back at Amnesty International’s Tindouf-camps reporting, accusing it of selectivity and omission of alleged killings by Algerian forces near the camps since 2014. International Scrutiny: The Polisario also announced a “military office” to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, a move analysts describe as more image-focused than a major operational shift. Culture & Politics: Javier Bardem, speaking at Cannes about his film shot in the Western Sahara, said Hollywood’s “narratives” are changing amid backlash over his Gaza stance.

Diplomatic Pressure & Human Rights: CONASADH warned the African Commission that the human rights and humanitarian situation in Morocco-occupied areas has worsened since the 2020 ceasefire breach, citing alleged war crimes, torture, arrests, sieges and restrictions on Sahrawi defenders. State-Building & Oversight: Polisario announced a Sahrawi military office to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, while also creating a humanitarian law office amid mounting international scrutiny. International Outreach: A Polisario representative delivered a lecture in Moscow on the Sahrawi Republic’s diplomatic gains and UN agenda presence, and the Sahrawi Republic took part in Africa CDC work on disease-control centers. Regional Security Context: Analysts say the new Polisario monitoring structures look more symbolic as attacks on Smara have reignited tensions. Culture & Spotlight: At Cannes, Javier Bardem defended his pro-Gaza activism as “narrative changing,” while his film “The Beloved” centers on a director hiring his estranged daughter for a Western Sahara-set project.

Diplomatic Push in Moscow: The Polisario’s Russia representative, Dr. Ali Salem Mohamed Fadel, told Moscow’s Higher School of Economics that the Sahrawi cause is gaining recognition across Africa and Latin America, with the Sahrawi Republic’s African Union membership boosting its role in continental institutions, while he cited European court rulings on Western Sahara’s natural-resource exploitation as key legal support. Human Rights Pressure: In Banjul, CONASADH warned the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights that conditions in occupied areas are worsening after Morocco’s alleged breach of the 2020 ceasefire, citing torture, arrests, sieges, and restrictions on Sahrawi defenders, journalists, and activists. Institution Building: Polisario also announced a “military office” to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, a move framed as legal oversight amid rising international scrutiny. Regional Engagement: The Sahrawi Republic continues participating in AU-linked forums, including health and disease-control workshops across North Africa.

Humanitarian Crisis in Tindouf: A new El País report warns Sahrawi refugee camps around Tindouf are sliding into a “dangerous new phase” after decades in exile—shrinking international aid, worsening food supplies, and hospitals stretched to breaking point, with many residents relying on assistance for survival. Diplomatic Push for Self-Determination: Angola and Algeria reaffirmed historic support for a just, lasting Western Sahara solution under UN and African resolutions, while Venezuela marked the Polisario Front’s 53rd anniversary with renewed backing for self-determination. Regional Security and Capacity: The Sahrawi Republic took part in the first extraordinary North Africa Regional Capability meeting (Libya-led nominations), and announced a Sahrawi Military Office to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law. Rights Spotlight: A conference at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights session in The Gambia focused on “invisible crises” and accountability in occupied Sahrawi territories. Morocco’s Security Narrative: Morocco says it arrested a suspected Daesh-linked extremist in Dakhla, underscoring how Western Sahara remains tied into broader security messaging.

Diplomacy in motion: The Sahrawi Republic joined the first extraordinary meeting of the North Africa Regional Capability, backing Libya’s nominations for top planning roles and stressing readiness within the African Standby Force, while reiterating peace, international law, and self-determination. Human rights spotlight: On the sidelines of the 87th African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights session, a conference in Banjul focused on “invisible crises” in occupied Western Sahara, highlighting restrictions on monitoring and a media blackout. Health cooperation: Sahrawi officials also took part in Africa CDC-linked workshops in Tripoli and Kampala on building national disease-control centers, including plans to tackle sickle cell anemia and other major conditions. Regional backing: Algeria and Angola reaffirmed support for a “just, lasting” Western Sahara solution under UN and AU resolutions, while Venezuela marked the 53rd anniversary of the Polisario Front with renewed calls for self-determination. Security and law: The Sahrawi side announced a Military Office to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, as Morocco continued military modernization and reported arrests tied to alleged Daesh plots.

UN Rights Spotlight: The 87th African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights opened in Banjul with a focus on “Invisible Crises” in the occupied Sahrawi territories, amid calls to protect rights where monitoring is restricted. Diplomatic Push: Algeria and Angola reaffirmed support for a “just, lasting” Western Sahara solution based on UN and African Union resolutions, while Venezuela marked the Polisario Front’s 53rd anniversary by reiterating backing for Sahrawi self-determination. Health & Capacity Building: The Sahrawi Republic took part in an Africa CDC workshop in Tripoli on building national disease-control centers, including work on sickle cell anemia and other major illnesses. Institution Building: In Shaheed El Hafed, the Sahrawi side announced a Military Office to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, and oversaw graduations in the national education system. Regional Context: The week also saw renewed international attention to the Sahara track after UN Security Council Resolution 2797.