Chahid El Hafed, January 26, 2026
The Association of the Families of Sahrawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA) expresses its satisfaction at the victory of our sister and emblematic human rights defender, Aminatou Haidar. She was able, yesterday, January 25, 2026, to finally board a flight to Spain after several days of obstacles and intimidation imposed by the Moroccan occupation authorities. This success is the fruit of Aminatou’s unwavering steadfastness, who refused to submit to a discriminatory and humiliating control at Dakhla airport on January 21, as well as the massive and solidarity-driven mobilization, both nationally and internationally, triggered in response to this latest arbitrary act by the colonial power.
AFAPREDESA once again denounces the systematic practices of harassment, arbitrary control of movement, and violation of fundamental rights endured by Sahrawis in the occupied territories, and especially by human rights defenders and activists. Preventing a Sahrawi citizen—a recipient of numerous prestigious human rights awards, including the Right Livelihood Award, and a globally recognized figure—from attending an urgent medical appointment constitutes not only an act of political persecution and a flagrant violation of the right to free movement but also a serious obstruction of the right to health and to life itself.
AFAPREDESA expresses its profound gratitude and appreciation to all human rights defense organizations, institutions, solidarity collectives with the Sahrawi people, and people of good will who raised their voices, exerted pressure, and supported this struggle. Their support was decisive in forcing the occupation authorities to back down and authorize Aminatou’s departure from El Aaiún without hindrance.
AFAPREDESA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the struggle for the freedom, justice, and self-determination of the Sahrawi people. We will continue to denounce every violation, every arbitrary detention, every disappearance, and every obstacle to the daily life of our people, until the illegal occupation ends and their inalienable right to freedom and independence is respected.