Western Sahara: Polisario releases all Moroccan political prisoners

The 404 Moroccan prisoners freed today were captured in Polisario’s liberation war to regain Western Sahara after the Moroccan Occupation of that territory in 1975. That war ended in 1991 when the UN brokered a ceasefire which they promised would lead to a referendum on Saharawi self-determination. 15 years later 200,000 Saharawi still live in destitution in refugee camps in the Algerian desert.

Although Polisario accepted the most recent peace plan proposed by UN Special Envoy James Baker, Morocco refused. While Morocco has traditionally refused to acknowledge that the Saharawi held any Moroccan prisoners of war, the Polisario hope that the freeing of all Moroccan prisoners will act as a final act of goodwill to resume negotiations towards a peace plan and referendum.

Meanwhile over 500 Saharawis remain ‘disappeared’ in Moroccan custody, and a further list of 150 Saharawi prisoners of war are unaccounted for. Nick Dearden, Campaigns Officer from War on Want, said: “This was the last human rights issue to be resolved on the Polisario side. The ball is now even more clearly in Morocco’s court. The refugees have suffered for 30 years now, and it’s time for the international community to ensure that they receive justice.”