The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Friday that the European Commission violated the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination by concluding trade agreements with Morocco.
Western Sahara, a vast desert region annexed by Morocco after Spain’s departure in 1975, has been the focus of Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute. The ruling comes after several appeals by the European Commission over trade deals signed in 2019, covering agricultural and fishing products from Western Sahara.
The court declared that the consent of Western Sahara’s people is required for the validity of such agreements. It further emphasized that consultations had involved residents, not necessarily the native Sahrawi population.
The ECJ also ruled that products like melons and tomatoes originating from Western Sahara must now be labeled as such, excluding any reference to Morocco to avoid misleading consumers.
Morocco condemned the ruling, while the Polisario Front, advocating for an independent Western Sahara, hailed the decision as a “historic victory.”
