فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Moroccan authorities expelled two Norwegian citizens on Sunday, November 3, who were suspiciously investigating renewable energy projects in the Moroccan Sahara.
Local authorities in Laayoune detained the two Norwegian activists on Saturday on suspicion of conducting activities hostile to the Kingdom’s interests in the Moroccan Sahara. The two women, Ingeborg Sævik Heltne, a researcher at the Norwegian Council for Africa, and Vivian Kaulen Nedenes, a member of the Norwegian Socialist Youth organization, had recently arrived in the city to “collect testimonies about renewable energy projects implemented by Rabat,” according to their statements to Spanish media.
Their presence and declared objective quickly drew the attention of Moroccan authorities. The activists were intercepted during a meeting with Mohammed Daddach, a figure of the Polisario separatist movement. From their arrival, they were placed under surveillance and interrogated.
The authorities explained to the activists that the areas they attempted to access were restricted to foreigners without prior authorization. After their detention, they were escorted to their hotel, asked to gather their belongings within ten minutes, before being transported by taxi to Agadir.
This is not the first time individuals linked to pro-separatist movements have attempted to enter the Moroccan Sahara to collect information. Researchers, journalists, and foreign activists are regularly expelled when they attempt to conduct investigations considered biased and unauthorized.
These actions reflect the vigilance of Moroccan authorities in facing repeated destabilization attempts orchestrated by activists supporting the Polisario. Morocco continues to promote sustainable development in its southern provinces, particularly through significant investments in renewable energy, while consolidating peace and stability in its southern regions.
