MOROCCO has been accused of bombing a school in Western Sahara as part of its escalating bombardment of the Sahrawi people.

Air strikes hit a number of civilian targets earlier this month, with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warning that the situation in Western Sahara has “significantly deteriorated.”

Last week the town of Aguenit was attacked for the second time this month, partly destroying the local school while civilian infrastructure including water wells were damaged.

Israel and Turkey have also supplied drones, with air strikes hitting civilians as well as military targets.

Earlier this year at least 23 shepherds died after being struck by Moroccan missiles. Last November a 15-year-old boy was among the 15 people killed during drone strikes across Western Sahara.

Morocco’s latest offensive began in November 2020 after it breached a 30-year ceasefire agreement by launching an incursion into the demilitarised Guerguerat region.

But it has met fierce resistance from the Polisario Front, which sees Morocco’s actions as “a declaration of war.”

Washington fuelled tensions under the Trump administration when it recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory in return for Rabat normalising relations with Israel. 

In January 2021 the US opened a consulate in Dakhla, a fishing port in southern Western Sahara, inflaming the situation further. 

Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975, but the majority of the population have consistently been found to favour independence.

The International Court of Justice has rejected Morocco’s claim to have had sovereignty over Western Sahara in precolonial times.

Today Western Sahara remains occupied by Morocco, along with the extensive mineral deposits found there, including phosphate, oil, gas, iron, uranium and others. 

Many Sahrawi people are confined to camps, where they live in appalling conditions.