The conflict over the exploitation of Western Sahara's natural resources by Morocco is now entering a new chapter, focused on oil drilling off the Western Sahara coast. The National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco (ONHYM, French acronym) announced at the end of last month that the Scottish company Cairn Energy was joining Texan firm Kosmos Energy in a partnership that aims at drilling on the sea bead of Bojador block, in front of the central coast of Western Sahara. Cairn announced that drilling operations are supposed to start during the second half of 2014.

The Polisario Front-dominated government of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) opposes these operations. SADR holds that Morocco has no right to grant permission to exploit Western Sahara's natural resources while the country still has to be decolonized. One of the Polisario senior members, Emhamed Hadad, says that drilling operations amount to a "war crime" while the Western Sahara remains occupied by a foreign power.

Hadad added exploiting natural resources without the consent of the Sahrawi representatives is illegal. This argument is based on the legal opinion issued in 2002 by UN legal advisor Hans Corell. According to this opinion, "exploration and exploitation activities" are "in violation of the principles of international law" if they are made without regard to "the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara".

The company is happy to have a "strategic presence"

In a press release announcing its entry into the Bojador partnership, Cairn Energy absolutely omits the fact that the area is off the Western Sahara coast and that, therefore, Morocco has no legal right to grant licenses there. The company appears delighted to have achieved a "strategic presence across three countries in Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania". Cairn will have a 20% stake in Boujdour, while Kosmos holds 55% and ONHYM the remaining 25%.

The Saharawi Government says it has contacted both companies to inform them about the illegality of their actions, and that the firms have not given an answer. SADR says to be ready to use "all means" to stop the exploitation of Saharawi natural resources.

International NGO Western Sahara Resource Watch has criticized plans to drill in Bojador. Cairn and Kosmos "are cementing the sufferings and exile of the Saharawi people", organization chairman Erik Hagen has said. Hagen holds that the Moroccan Government "will not respect the rights of the people of Western Sahara, as long as they are ever closer to finding oil in the occupied territory".