Calls for Boycott Follow Filming of New Project in Western Sahara

Human rights advocates are calling for a public boycott of a high-profile film production following reports that portions of the project were filmed in Western Sahara. Campaigners argue that the production, which utilized locations in the Dakhla region, provides tacit legitimacy to Morocco’s long-standing occupation of the territory. The controversy centers on the ethics of filming in a region where the United Nations has long sought a resolution regarding self-determination for the Sahrawi people.

The Controversy Over Filming in Dakhla

Activists, including members of the Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara), first identified production activity in the White Dune area of Dakhla approximately one year ago. According to María Carrión, executive director of FiSahara, local activists reached out to the production team at the time to request that they cease operations. Instead of departing, reports indicate that production representatives were photographed with Moroccan officials, including Minister of Culture Mehdi Bensaid.

Critics contend that the presence of a major international production in Dakhla serves the interests of the Moroccan government, which has sought to promote the occupied territory as a destination for tourism and film industry investment. Sahrawi campaigners argue that such activities overlook the humanitarian situation on the ground, where the United Nations continues to monitor the status of the territory under international law.

The Impact of U.S. Policy Shifts

The decision to film in the region has drawn comparisons to shifts in international diplomatic stances, particularly the 2020 U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Abidin Mohamed Hamudi, a filmmaker with the Sahrawi Voice collective, notes that the U.S. move significantly altered the geopolitical landscape.

“If the government that claims to be a reference worldwide for respecting human rights… steps over international law and does such a thing, I think that it opens the door to all these people to take Western Sahara as if it is a territory where they can decide to who it belongs,” Hamudi stated.

This policy change, part of the broader Abraham Accords framework, has been cited by activists as a factor that emboldened international entities to operate in the territory. For the Sahrawi people, many of whom reside in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, the ability of foreign film crews to enter the territory stands in stark contrast to their own inability to return to their homeland.

Human Rights and the Question of Self-Determination

The situation in Western Sahara remains a protracted humanitarian and political issue. The United Nations maintains that the territory is a non-self-governing territory, and the Sahrawi people hold the legal right to self-determination.

Human rights organizations have consistently documented reports of repression against Sahrawi activists living under Moroccan administration. Specifically, activists have highlighted the case of Naâma Asfari, a political prisoner associated with the Gdeim Izik protest camp, who has been the subject of international calls for release.

For those protesting the film, the primary demand remains the adherence to international law and the realization of the Sahrawi people’s right to decide their own political future. As the film reaches global audiences, campaigners are urging viewers to engage with alternative documentaries and educational materials that detail the history of Western Sahara, often referred to as “Africa’s last colony.”

Key Context on the Western Sahara Conflict

* Legal Status: The United Nations classifies Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, with a mission (MINURSO) tasked with organizing a referendum on self-determination that has yet to be held.
* Refugee Population: Tens of thousands of Sahrawi people live in refugee camps in the Tindouf province of Algeria, having fled the territory following the 1975 conflict.
* International Stance: While the U.S. recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020, the official position of the United Nations remains focused on a negotiated political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
* Protest Actions: Demonstrations have occurred at various international premieres of the film, with activists using the platform to draw attention to the ongoing occupation and the plight of political prisoners.