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Western Sahara: Natural Resources

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UIN 12714, tabled on 1 February 2024

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the use of Western Sahara's natural resources by the occupying power on the indigenous Saharawi people.

Answered on

9 February 2024

We do not consider commercial activity to be illegal in Western Sahara, providing it respects the interests of the Sahrawi people. The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN-Secretary-Genera to Western Sahara and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.