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Friday, January 23, 2009
The Saharawi National Council, the parliament for the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), adopted a law delineating the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the maritime areas of the SADR. The SADR declared an offshore EEZ on January 21, making official its exclusive rights to the oil, gas, and fishing resources offshore of the territory of Western Sahara.
“This legislation passed by the Saharawi parliament states that when the maritime rights of the SADR overlapping with that of neighbouring states, the Saharawi Republic may negotiate and make agreements with the countries concerned on the demarcation of maritime borders,” said the new law adopted by the SNC.
Under the new legislation the EEZ will have a maximum width of 200 miles beyond the baselines. The coastal state has "sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation, conservation and management of natural resources, waters lying on the seabed, seabed and its subsoil," said the same source.
According to the official SADR release the declaration of the EEZ confirms the SADR’s jurisdiction over its offshore fisheries and mineral and petroleum seabed resources, as provided for under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The EEZ also provides the legal framework for the SADR’s offshore licensing regime, which is currently receiving international bids for offshore oil and gas exploration activities (see http://www.sadroilandgas.com for further information).
After signing the new legislation, SADR President Mohamed Abdelaziz said: “This is an exciting moment for the Sahrawi people. The EEZ declaration is an expression and exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. It is also a further step towards full statehood, and to taking control of our natural riches, which have been plundered illegally for many years by Morocco and other foreign interests.”
Apparently the recent exploration activities offshore Western Sahara initiated by Kosmos Energy, Fugro-Geoteam, and the government of Morocco has stirred the SADR to stake its claim; with the passage of this legislation, the SADR has made clear its views regarding unauthorized activities in the Western Saharan EEZ.
Abdelaziz said “This declaration bears out the illegality of all unauthorised natural resource-related activities conducted by Morocco and other foreign interests in Western Sahara’s waters. We call on all parties to revisit immediately any agreements with Morocco that do not explicitly exclude the Western Saharan territory and its offshore areas, including the EEZ.”
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