The Sahrawi Struggle beyond UN Resolutions

Women on the Line

This week, we turn to Western Sahara, often referred to as the last colony in Africa and one of the most overlooked frontlines of imperial power. In the wake of the UN Security Council’s 31 October resolution, which lends weight to Morocco’s autonomy plan and extends the MINURSO mandate (which has been extended annually since 1991), we examine what this means for Sahrawi self-determination. This moment is especially significant because 6 November 2025 marks 50 years of Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, and five decades that Sahrawis have lived in exile in refugee camps in Southwest Algeria.Our guest today is Sahrawi human rights activist and teacher Najla Mohamed-Lamin, who focuses on women's rights and environmental issues. She established the Almasar Library Centre, which educated women and children living in Sahrawi refugee camps about climate change. She speaks about life under exile and why Sahrawi resistance endures despite displacement, resource plunder, and global indifference.