Ship unloads sand from El Aaiún in Puerto del Rosario

The bulk carrier Dura Bulk unloaded yesterday several tonnes of sand originating from Western Sahara. The material will be used by the construction industry on the island of Fuerteventura.

Sahrawi collectives have long denounced this practice, arguing that it breaches United Nations and European Union resolutions which state:

“It is not permissible to trade sand from Western Sahara without the consent of the Sahrawi people, the legitimate owners of that territory and its future, through a self‑determination referendum.”

In addition, sources consulted by this outlet point out the limited phytosanitary controls applied to such imports. The handling of sand from the African continent is regulated by the Order of 6 August 2001, as stipulated by the Canary Islands Government’s Department of Territorial Policy and Environment, yet enforcement appears minimal.