Moroccan Wall - International Reaction and Incidents

International Reaction and Incidents

Western attention to the border wall, and to the Moroccan annexation of the Western Sahara in general, has been minimal, apart from in Spain. Once a year, a small demonstration is held against the barrier by a few human rights activists.

In the summer of 2005, the Moroccan Army accelerated the expulsion (started in late 2004) of illegal immigrants detained in northern Morocco to the eastern side of the wall, into the Free Zone. The Polisario Front and the MINURSO rescued several dozens lost in the desert, who had run out of water. Others died of thirst. By October, the Polisario had received 22 immigrants in Mehaires, 46 in Tifariti and 97 in Bir Lehlu. They were from African countries (Gambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana…), except a group of 48 who were from Bangladesh.

In Africa, the annexation of Western Sahara by Morocco has attracted somewhat more attention. Algeria supports the Polisario "in its long-running desert war to oppose Moroccan control of the disputed area". The Organization of African Unity/African Union and United Nations have proposed negotiated solutions, though the African Union's stance on Western Sahara led to Morocco's exit from the organisation.