Thousands rally in Madrid to demand Spain address Western Sahara legacy and condemn Moroccan violations

Thousands of demonstrators, including Spaniards and members of the Sahrawi community residing in Spain, gathered in the streets of Madrid on Saturday in a show of solidarity with the Sahrawi people’s struggle and to decry the ongoing Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.

Waving the flags of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and chanting slogans, protesters emphasized the Sahrawi people’s right to freedom and independence.

Among the key messages voiced was a call for Spain to acknowledge its historical and legal responsibilities as a former colonial administrator of the territory, a stance widely perceived as essential for achieving justice for the Sahrawi people.

Demonstrators also spoke out against the 1975 Madrid Tripartite Agreement, highlighting the hardships it unleashed on the Sahrawi population.

“The agreement facilitated Moroccan control and brought about decades of suffering, including crimes against humanity that continue to affect Sahrawis to this day,” noted one protester.

Banners held high demanded accountability and a stronger stance from Madrid, echoing calls for a fair resolution to the decades-long conflict.

The demonstration featured a “festival of speeches” where representatives from associations, solidarity activists, and members of Spain’s Solidarity Movement expressed unwavering support for the Sahrawi cause.

Their messages highlighted the commitment to using all legitimate means to advocate for the rights and dignity of the Sahrawi people.

This significant demonstration in Madrid underscores the deepening international solidarity with the Sahrawi cause, notably among Spanish civil society.

“This annual march shows that our voices are growing stronger.

We will continue to shed light on the injustice,” said a Sahrawi community member during the event.

Spanish solidarity associations, in coordination with the Polisario Front’s representation in Spain, organize these yearly demonstrations.

The aim is to remind Spain of its historical obligations to Western Sahara and draw global attention to Morocco’s continued occupation of the region.