2026. CODESA
“During these visits, the families expressed grave concern over the conditions of their sons and relatives. The family of Sahrawi political prisoner “El-Bachir Khadda” reported that since his transfer to the local prison in occupied El-Aaiun, he has been subjected to isolation and harassment, and that his family members were only able to meet him for a few minutes during the last visit.
Similarly, the family of Sahrawi political prisoner “Abdallah Bahaa” confirmed that all contact with him has been cut off for nine days, expressing fears for his health condition and fate, while the mother of Sahrawi political prisoner “Ahmed Sbaai” reported that his health is witnessing a serious deterioration, amid what she described as the prison administration’s failure to provide the necessary care for his condition.
For its part, the family of Sahrawi political prisoner “Mohammed Bourial” expressed fears for his safety after he undertook a 48-hour warning hunger strike in solidarity with his fellow hunger-striking comrades.
In light of these facts, the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA) expresses its deep concern over the conditions of the Sahrawi political prisoners on hunger strike, holds the prison administration responsible for guaranteeing their physical and psychological safety, and enabling them to receive medical care and communicate with their families and lawyers.
The organization renews its call to UN mechanisms and international human rights organizations to urgently intervene to protect these prisoners, and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Sahrawi political prisoners of the Gdeim Izik group, and an end to their suffering and the harassment and violations they are subjected to”.