The 50th conference of the European Coordination for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO) took place in Madrid on November 13-14, 2026. The event brought together delegations from Algeria, Latin America, and several European countries. The conference was co-presided over by Pierre Galand, president of EUCOCO, and Bouchraya Hamoudi Beyoun, Prime Minister of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The meeting was held under the slogan "The right to self-determination is non-negotiable."
The conference adopted a final declaration calling for the organization of a referendum on Sahrawi independence. The declaration urged the international community to support the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence. The signatories also called on the United Nations to play a central role in completing the decolonization process of Western Sahara. They emphasized that the passage of time should not be used as a pretext for violating international law.
The declaration expressed concern about the human rights situation in the occupied Sahrawi territories. The signatories called for the release of Sahrawi prisoners and urged the Moroccan government to allow international observers and organizations to access the territory. They also urged the next Spanish government to assume its historical and legal responsibilities regarding Western Sahara. This appeal is particularly relevant in light of the upcoming early legislative elections in Spain on November 29, 2026.
The conference also addressed the issue of the exploitation of Western Sahara's natural resources. Participants examined the human rights violations, restrictions on freedoms, and media blackout imposed by the Moroccan government. The event provided a platform for solidarity with the Sahrawi people and reaffirmed the commitment to support their struggle for independence.
Algerian Vice-President of the Council of the Nation, Salim Belhasrouf, represented the Algerian Parliament at the conference. He reiterated Algeria's support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and its position against colonialism. Belhasrouf emphasized that continued support for the Sahrawi cause would help bring an end to the tragedy and eliminate the last vestige of colonialism in Africa.
The conference also discussed the growing international support for the Sahrawi independence movement. Belhasrouf noted that an increasing number of states and international organizations are calling for the implementation of relevant UN resolutions and decisions. He stressed the importance of keeping the Sahrawi issue within its legitimate UN framework as a decolonization question that can only be resolved through a self-determination referendum.
The 50th EUCOCO conference concluded with a renewed commitment to supporting the Sahrawi people's struggle for independence. The event demonstrated the continued international solidarity with the Sahrawi cause and highlighted the need for a peaceful and just solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
Key points
- The conference called for a referendum on Sahrawi independence and an end to colonialism.
- The event was co-presided over by Pierre Galand and Bouchraya Hamoudi Beyoun.
- The conference adopted a final declaration urging the international community to support the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence.
