Oddly, the UN monitoring mission in occupied Western Sahara is the only UN mission to lack a human rights role. A year ago, the US caused ructions by unexpectedly giving its support to the idea of adding a human rights dimension to MINURSO.
Since that scare, Morocco, which has occupied Western Sahara since 1975, has been taking steps to head off pressure at this April’s MINURSO renewal meeting.
The government has published a draft law – not yet passed by parliament – ending the trial of civilians in military tribunals. It has refused, however, to re-try Sahrawi activists already convicted in Moroccan military trials.