The European Commission has conducted an audit of the port of Dakhla in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, according to a statement from the EU's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). The audit, which took place in early March 2026, was part of a routine assessment of port infrastructure under the EU's Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with Morocco.
The move has drawn immediate criticism from the Polisario Front, the movement seeking independence for Western Sahara. In a statement, Polisario representative Oubi Bouchraya Bachir condemned the audit as a violation of international law, arguing it lends legitimacy to Morocco's administration of the territory without the consent of the Sahrawi people.
Morocco views Western Sahara as an integral part of its kingdom and has invested heavily in developing infrastructure in the region, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port. The European Union's engagement in the territory remains a sensitive diplomatic issue, balancing its partnership with Morocco against international legal opinions on the status of the non-self-governing territory.
The audit's findings have not been made public. The European Commission stated the evaluation was a technical mission related to fisheries control and capacity, separate from political recognition of sovereignty.
