Spanish judges challenge Laayoune's «Moroccanness» in Official Bulletin

Ahead of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's expected visit to Rabat this Wednesday, the pro-Polisario lobby has raised a new concern. The International Association of Judges for Western Sahara (IAJWS) has urged Minister of Culture and Sports, Ernest Urtasun de Sumar, to revoke the recognition of Laayoune's Moroccan status, as recorded in an edition of the Official State Gazette (BOE), El Independiente reports.

The IAJWS claims the document «contained a material or factual error, by attributing the Sahrawi capital to Morocco», arguing it contravenes both Spain's stance on the territory's legal status and international law.

The Association cites Article 109.2 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, 2023, on Public Administration Procedure, as the basis for their request. They point out that the Spanish government, in a BOE document outlining the construction of a Spanish school in Laayoune, referred to the city as being within Morocco. The Polisario has reportedly requested Minister Urtasun de Sumar to rectify this «inappropriate reference».