Western Sahara: Natural Resources

(asked on 8th November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to the Moroccan Government on the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights urging that country to respect the Saharawis’ right to consent with regard to the exploitation of their resources.


Answered by
James Cleverly Portrait
James Cleverly
Home Secretary
This question was answered on 15th November 2021

The UK notes the UN legal view from 2002, which stated that commercial activity in Western Sahara (including the exploration for, and exploitation of natural resources) is not inherently illegal but must be for the benefit of people of Western Sahara.

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