On Tuesday, July 8, Moroccan authorities expelled three Spanish nationals from Laayoune, two journalists and a community activist. Escorted by security services, they were taken to Agadir airport and placed on a return flight to Spain. The individuals had reportedly coordinated their visit with Sahrawis linked to the Polisario Front, claiming their aim was to «assess the human rights situation in Western Sahara». Like others recently expelled from Laayoune or Dakhla, they identified themselves as «international human rights observers». Moroccan authorities maintain that such visits must be coordinated in advance with local representatives, elected officials, and authorities in Western Sahara, a condition often rejected by Polisario-aligned activists, whether in Spain or elsewhere. These expulsions frequently trigger political responses, including written questions from Spanish Members of the European Parliament directed at the European Commission.
