Familes of disappeared stage sit-in in front of Province of El-Ayoune

09 Apr 2007 | Information/Update

The families of the 15 Sahrawis — who disappeared while attempting to immigrate to the Canaries Islands — organized today, Monday 9 April 2007, a sit-in in front of the Wilaya (Provincial Authority) of El-Ayoune to know the fate of their children. The families decided to maintain their sit-in until the Wilaya opens its doors to them.

The 15 young Sahrawi have been reported disappeared since 25 December 2006 during an attempt of immigration towards the Canaries Islands. Their families, having previously constituted a committee, have organized several sit-ins which had been savagely repressed. They have also had meetings with Moroccan authorities. On several occasions, the families have received promises from authorities that the fate of their children would be revealed, but without any follow-through.

The families of these 15 young disappeared Sahrawi believe that the Moroccan authorities have maintained their children in detention since their attempt to migrate. The families claim to have evidence and witnesses that their children are still alive except one, who died under unknown circumstances.

In recent times, a great number of young Sahrawis have left the territory in the hope to immigrate towards the Canaries Islands. Their fates are always dramatic, given that tens have died on the sea journey. The repression suffered by Sahrawi citizens and the encouragements of the Moroccan authorities are behind this massive immigration of the Sahrawi youth.