DR ‹ › The Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) has launched a fresh campaign against an international certification body over agricultural products originating from the Sahara. This NGO, known for its strong ties with the Polisario Front, is now setting its sights on the Swiss multinational SGS S.A., a global leader in inspection, control, analysis, and certification, based in Geneva. WSRW accuses the MarinTrust system of issuing certificates, through SGS, for agricultural products from the Sahara. However, the Swiss company firmly denies these claims. «SGS has no intention of taking sides in this conflict. We therefore contest your assertion that SGS acted with gross negligence», the company stated in a letter addressed to WSRW. Previously, this pro-Polisario group had launched a similar campaign against a British certification system in late November. A few months earlier, the Brussels-based NGO targeted a private German organization that had certified Moroccan and international agricultural companies operating in Western Sahara as «responsible». WSRW argued that issuing these certifications contradicts the rulings made on October 4, 2024, by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which exclude products from Western Sahara from agricultural and fisheries agreements between Morocco and the EU. Western Sahara Resource Watch's actions extend beyond criticizing European companies investing in Western Sahara. The NGO is also actively involved in Polisario campaigns, particularly within the European Parliament and the British Parliament.
