Why it Matters: Investing in Youth in Western Sahara

The fifth African Union – European Union summit in Côte d’Ivoire drew to a close yesterday. Although this year’s summit focused on investing in youth, many young Saharawis are still subject to daily violations of their rights under an illegal Moroccan occupation. In a video message, Saharawi youth urged EU and AU leaders to live up to the principles of the summit by investing in a sustainable future for Western Sahara. They highlighted the protection of human rights, respect for the right to self-determination, and the need to prevent the illegal exploitation of natural resources that rightfully belong to the people of Western Sahara.