Freedom in the World reports assess the level of political rights and civil liberties in a given geographical area, regardless of whether they are affected by the state, nonstate actors, or foreign powers. Disputed territories are sometimes assessed separately if they meet certain criteria, including boundaries that are sufficiently stable to allow year-on-year comparisons. For more information, see the report methodology and FAQ.

Morocco has claimed authority over Western Sahara since 1975, but the United Nations considers it a “non-self-governing territory.” Morocco controls the most populous area along the Atlantic coastline, more than three-quarters of the territory; this area, which the Moroccan government calls the “Southern Provinces,” is represented in that country’s parliament. The Polisario Front controls land in Western Sahara’s eastern and southern reaches. Rabat regularly offers autonomy; the Polisario demands an independence referendum. A 1991 UN–brokered cease-fire deteriorated in 2020, and conflict continues in the territory. Civil liberties are severely restricted in Moroccan-controlled territory, especially relating to independence activism; civil liberties are also curtailed in Polisario-controlled territory.

• In October, two journalists from the all-volunteer Equipe Media group, Ahmed Ettanji and Mohamed Mayara, were arrested by Moroccan authorities and expelled from Boujdour during a reporting trip and to visit family. In November, Equipe Media reported that Mayara had been attacked in Laayoune by individuals they believed to be linked with Moroccan authorities, and published photos of the journalist with an injury to his face. Equipe Media has long faced harassment by Moroccan authorities.
• In May, the Sahrawi Mine Action Coordination Office (SMACO)—the Polisario’s humanitarian group dealing with explosive remnants of war—released a report on civilian casualties resulting from the Moroccan army’s use of military drones in the region. The report said that amid conflict between Moroccan and Sahrawi forces, 73 Moroccan drone attacks on civilians between 2021 and 2023 had resulted in 160 civilian casualties, including 80 fatalities among Sahrawi, Mauritanian, and Algerian nationals.
• In April, researchers from Cisco Talos and the Yahoo Advanced Cyber Threats Team found new mobile malware masquerading as a Sahrawi news app. Beginning in January, the malware reportedly targeted human rights activists associated with the Sahrawi self-determination movement in Western Sahara and Morocco.
• In October, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) blocked the European Union (EU) from including Western Sahara in its trade and fishery agreements with Morocco. The ruling, a victory for the Polisario Front, meant that the EU cannot recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara or include it in bilateral agreements with Morocco. It additionally meant that that Moroccan authorities must obtain the consent of the Sahrawi people when entering into agreements relating to their territory, and take measures to ensure they benefit from the exploitation of their natural resources.

This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.

For additional background information, see last year’s full report.