Laayoune: Morocco Expels Three Spanish Pro-Polisario Activists in Ongoing Crackdown (video)
On March 29, 2025, Moroccan authorities expelled three Spanish activists supporting the Polisario Front from Laayoune, emphasizing Morocco's commitment to national sovereignty. This incident follows bans on other pro-Polisario delegations and reflects ongoing tensions between Morocco and separatist supporters, reinforcing Morocco's resolve to protect its territorial integrity.
hassan benyoub 
Laayoune, March 29, 2025 – Moroccan authorities in Laayoune expelled three Spanish activists supporting the pro-separatist Polisario Front on Saturday, barring them from entering the Moroccan Sahara. The group included journalist Gara Santa Suárez, university professor Jesús Maezto Tejada, and activist Maria Rosa Fernandez. This incident is part of a broader pattern of attempts by pro-Polisario delegations to undermine Morocco’s image and manipulate human rights narratives in the region.
Sahrawi journalist Naama Maoulainine commented, “Morocco’s stance is unequivocal: national sovereignty is non-negotiable, and any hostile actions are destined to fail.” The expulsion follows a similar event on March 15, when Spanish lawyers advocating separatist views were denied entry to Laayoune. Arriving on a flight from the Canary Islands, they claimed their visit aimed to investigate natural resource management and assess human rights conditions in the Sahara.
Recurring Incidents
Mandated by the “International Association of Jurists for the Sahara,” these lawyers were prevented from disembarking and promptly returned after sparking tensions onboard by debating the territory’s sovereignty. Moroccan authorities issued a warning for “disrupting international air traffic” in response.
In February, Morocco deported Spanish parliamentarians from the Basque region—also Polisario supporters—alongside two European MPs from Portugal and Finland. Arriving in Laayoune by air, they were ordered to depart on the same flight without leaving the aircraft.
Polisario-Orchestrated Efforts
Spanish media reports indicate these visits were coordinated with the Polisario Front and backed by Spain’s Podemos party, known for its pro-separatist stance. The Algeria-supported Polisario seeks to embarrass Morocco by encouraging European sympathizers to visit Saharan cities. However, Moroccan authorities consistently respond by expelling individuals threatening the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.
On January 28, security officials denied entry to five Spanish political activists and human rights advocates supporting Polisario at Laayoune’s Hassan I Airport. Arriving on a scheduled Binter Canarias flight from Las Palmas, they were immediately blocked based on evidence linking their Basque origins to activities advancing the separatist agenda in Morocco’s southern provinces.
Suspicious “Tourists”
The following night, from Wednesday to Thursday, Laayoune authorities expelled nine Italians and one Briton—also Polisario backers—via Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport. Entering Morocco as “tourists” through Laayoune’s airport, these individuals were suspected of planning undeclared activities in the southern provinces, violating entry and residency laws. They had previously organized events in Algeria’s Tindouf camps through a European circus performance association.
Amid these recurring provocations, Morocco reaffirms its vigilance and resolve in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial unity.
