Sahrawi Media Activist Taleb Ali Salem Exposes the Truth About the Spanish Left: When the Masks of “Solidarity” Fall
Amid the escalating political debate in Spain over Pedro Sánchez’s government policy toward Morocco, Sahrawi activist and journalist Taleb Ali Salem has returned to a question that has been present in Sahrawi political discourse for years: Has the Spanish left, which has long presented itself as supportive of the Sahrawi people, truly been an ally of the Sahrawi cause, or has this solidarity remained limited to slogans and occasional positions?
Taleb Ali Salem argues that recent developments in Spanish-Moroccan relations reveal a deep contradiction between the discourse adopted by some sectors of the Spanish left regarding Western Sahara and their political positions when the Sahrawi cause conflicts with Spain’s political interests and calculations.
The Sahrawi activist says that Sánchez and the Spanish Socialist Party are now facing growing anger on the Spanish streets over what he describes as their submission to Moroccan pressure, their retreat from traditional Spanish positions on the Western Sahara issue, and the repeated tensions in relations between Madrid and Rabat.
For the Sahrawis, however, Taleb Ali Salem adds, these developments are not a real surprise, because doubts about the nature of what is known as the “left in solidarity with the Sahrawi cause” have existed for years.
From Solidarity with the Camps to Political Positions
Taleb Ali Salem points to what he considers a clear example of the contradiction between rhetoric and practice, referring to the position of the leader of Sumar, a party known for its declared support for the Sahrawi cause.
During her presence at the United Nations, the party leader was reportedly asked directly whether she considered Morocco a dictatorship. However, her response did not focus on the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara or the human rights situation in the occupied territories, but instead included an expression of thanks to Morocco.
The Sahrawi activist considers that this episode, when placed within its broader political context, reveals the distance that can exist between declared solidarity with the Sahrawi people and actual political positions when relations with Morocco are at stake.
“Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”: A Sharp Criticism of the Solidarity Narrative
In strong terms, Taleb Ali Salem warns against being deceived by the image of the “left in solidarity” with the Sahrawi cause.
He argues that some Spanish political forces visit the Sahrawi refugee camps, participate in solidarity activities, provide aid, take photographs with Sahrawi families, and speak about Sahrawis’ right to Spanish citizenship and about their solidarity with them. But, he says, the real test begins when the issue moves from a solidarity activity to a clear political position on the Moroccan occupation.
In his view, political positions should not be measured by the number of visits to the camps or the amount of aid provided, but rather by the willingness of those who express them to defend the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and confront the violations suffered by Sahrawis in the occupied territories.
Spanish Interests Take Center Stage
The Sahrawi activist places these positions within a broader framework involving Spain’s interests with Morocco, including migration, security, trade, fisheries, energy, and economic cooperation.
From this perspective, he argues that part of the Spanish left has found itself facing a difficult equation: maintaining a historically sympathetic discourse toward the Sahrawi cause while, at the same time, avoiding confrontation with Morocco, which has become an important partner for successive Spanish governments on a number of strategic issues.
Here, according to Taleb Ali Salem, the difference between symbolic solidarity and genuine political commitment becomes clear.
“Those Who Exploit Your Cause Are Not Your Allies”
Taleb Ali Salem stresses that he has warned for years against placing excessive reliance on certain Spanish political forces, noting that his criticism has exposed him to attacks and criticism from some quarters within the Sahrawi community itself.
He considers that current developments have once again brought the same question forcefully to the forefront: Who is the true ally of the Sahrawi cause?
An ally, he argues, is not someone who merely expresses sympathy or visits refugee camps, but someone who stands by their position when the issue becomes a political test, defends the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, and rejects the transformation of occupation into an established fact.
When the Masks Fall
In concluding his position, Taleb Ali Salem addresses Sahrawis who still view some sectors of the Spanish left as strategic allies of their cause, urging them to assess political positions away from emotions, photographs, and slogans.
He concludes that just causes do not need seasonal solidarity, but rather consistent positions when political interests are at stake.
For him, recent developments represent a new test for Spanish political forces that have long spoken of solidarity with the Sahrawi people—a test that will reveal who stands with the Sahrawis’ right to self-determination and who places their political calculations and interests with Morocco above that right.
The message he seeks to convey is clear:
“Those who exploit your cause are not your allies, and those who protect your occupier are not your friends.”
As shifts continue in Spanish policy toward Morocco and Western Sahara, the challenge for the Sahrawis, according to Taleb Ali Salem, is to judge political positions by actions rather than slogans, and to distinguish between temporary humanitarian or political solidarity and genuine commitment to the principles of self-determination and decolonization.
