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Western Sahara: Deciphering shameless Moroccan propaganda

The article published by Hespress on October 19, 2025, titled “Leak of the Sahara Resolution Shakes Tindouf and Ends the Illusion of the ‘Polisario State’” illustrates the extent to which Moroccan propaganda persists in its attempt to distort the reality of Western Sahara. Under the guise of an alleged “political earthquake” in the Tindouf camps, Hespress seeks to manipulate public opinion and delegitimize the Sahrawi people’s historic struggle. A closer reading exposes the deception.

1. The “Shattered Dream”? A Fiction Concealing Moroccan Occupation

Hespress claims that the release of a draft Security Council resolution “destroys the dream of the Sahrawi Republic.” The truth is quite different: Western Sahara remains a non-self-governing territory, recognized as such by the UN since 1963, and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination is inalienable. No leaked or official resolution can annul this fundamental right.

Moroccan propaganda wants the world to believe that the Sahrawi people are manipulated by the Polisario. In reality, it is the Sahrawi population that has endured decades of Moroccan occupation and blockade—not a “mirage” created by their liberation movement.

2. Spotlight on the U.S. and “Autonomy”: A Crude Manipulation

Hespress asserts that Washington, France, and Britain support Morocco’s autonomy plan as the sole solution. This interpretation is biased and false: no definitive international decision has validated the Moroccan plan, and the Security Council remains the guarantor of the decolonization process. U.S. statements do not constitute legal endorsement.

This tactic aims to create a “fait accompli” for Moroccan readers and impose a false narrative—that the UN is now aligned with Morocco. The reality is that the international community continues to reaffirm the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, in accordance with UN Resolutions 1514 and 1541.

3. The Alleged Panic in Tindouf: A Shameful Staging

Hespress cites claims of “terror” among Sahrawi refugees. This dramatization is nothing more than a staged attempt to delegitimize the Polisario and ridicule Sahrawi resistance. The Sahrawis know their history and the reality of Moroccan occupation, and they continue to fight for their rights despite hardship and blockade. Hespress turns a genuine humanitarian tragedy into a sensationalist narrative to mask the illegal occupation of their land.

4. Accusing the Polisario of “Betrayal”: A Scandalous Reversal of Facts

Hespress alleges that the Polisario has failed in its mission. Yet:

  • The Polisario was created to defend the Sahrawi people against Spanish colonization and later Moroccan occupation.
  • The UN still recognizes the Polisario as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people.
    To accuse this movement of “betrayal” is a lie aimed at reversing responsibility: it is Morocco that illegally occupies the territory and blocks any fair solution.

5. Demonizing Algeria: A Worn-Out Propaganda Tool

Hespress claims Algeria is “in trouble” and that the camps are “mostly Algerian.” This is false. The camp populations consist solely of displaced Sahrawis, and Algeria fulfills its duty of humanitarian and diplomatic solidarity. No government has the right to manipulate the identity of refugee populations to legitimize the occupation of foreign territory.

6. On the UN Process: Hespress Ignores Legal Reality

Hespress suggests the Security Council has embraced Morocco’s plan. In reality, any draft resolution must be approved by consensus and carries no binding force until negotiations conclude. The Moroccan article oversimplifies and falsifies the process to create the illusion of a “Moroccan success” that does not exist.

Conclusion: Propaganda vs. Reality

The Hespress article is a clear example of disinformation, aiming to:

  • Delegitimize the Polisario and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
  • Create an illusion of inevitability around Morocco’s autonomy plan.
  • Portray the Sahrawi people as manipulated and refugees as “desperate.”

The truth is simple: Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory, and the Sahrawi people will remain masters of their destiny. Algeria and the international community will continue to uphold their legitimate rights against Morocco’s attempts at historical and legal falsification.

Propaganda may stir the air, but it cannot erase justice or historical truth.

By Belgacem Merbah


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