The Karama Sahara organization, based in the greater D.C. area., has recently contacted several American companies, including McDonald’s, Airbnb, and DHL, urging them to cease operations in Western Sahara. The organization argues that their presence violates international law, referring specifically to rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which has affirmed Western Sahara’s unique legal status as a non-self-governing territory. This status, recognized by the United Nations, means that the region cannot legally be considered part of Morocco, and therefore foreign companies should not operate there without consent from the Sahrawi people.

Karama Sahara pointed to the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, which explicitly excludes Western Sahara from its jurisdiction. Under this agreement, trade preferences between the U.S. and Morocco do not apply to Western Sahara, meaning that American businesses operating there are outside the scope of lawful trade agreements between the two countries.

The organization also cited an ECJ ruling from October 4, 2024, which reaffirmed that any commercial or trade agreement involving Western Sahara requires the consent of the Sahrawi people. The court highlighted that agreements that include the territory without such consent violate their right to self-determination and control over natural resources. In its letters, Karama Sahara warned that disregarding these legal standards could lead to legal actions to ensure these companies withdraw from the area. The organization also requested that the companies provide compensation for the profits derived from using the region’s natural resources, emphasizing that the Polisario Front is recognized as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people in this context.