A recent arson attack on the Copenhagen office of the Danish NGO Global Aktion has drawn sharp condemnation from the Frente POLISARIO and ignited widespread concern over Morocco’s escalating campaign to suppress international solidarity with the Saharawi people’s struggle for self-determination.

A cowardly act of political violence

On January 13, 2025, the Copenhagen-based Global Aktion, a prominent advocate for human rights and economic justice, became the target of a politically motivated arson attack. Molotov cocktails ravaged the organization’s office in Nørrebro, leaving its premises gutted and unusable. Graffiti messages with slogans such as “The Sahara belongs to Morocco” and “Stop supporting terrorism” signaled the political intent behind the attack, linking it to Global Aktion’s steadfast support for the Saharawi cause.

Although no injuries were reported, residents in nearby apartments were evacuated during the blaze. Copenhagen police are investigating the incident, treating it as a politically motivated act of terror.

POLISARIO Front condemns the attack

In a strongly worded statement from its European representation, the POLISARIO Front denounced the attack as a heinous assault on values of justice, freedom, and solidarity. The Saharawi liberation movement described the act as part of Morocco’s broader strategy to stifle dissent and intimidate international movements that challenge its occupation of Western Sahara.

“This cowardly act of arson is not merely an attack on Global Aktion but a calculated attempt to silence those who stand against Morocco’s illegal occupation and expose its systematic human rights violations,” the statement read.

A broader campaign of repression

POLISARIO Front emphasized that this attack reflects a pattern of Moroccan aggression that extends beyond the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Inside the region, the Moroccan regime has been accused of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the silencing of human rights defenders.

Internationally, Morocco’s efforts to suppress solidarity with the Saharawi cause have included surveillance, intimidation, and now acts of violence. The POLISARIO Front warned that such actions are emboldened by the international community’s failure to hold Morocco accountable.

Sahrawi resilience and global solidarity

Global Aktion, despite the devastation, remains resolute in its mission. Morten Nielsen, the NGO’s policy and campaign coordinator, underscored their commitment to the Saharawi people: “If this attack was meant to intimidate us, it has only strengthened our resolve.”

Support for the organization has poured in from activists, politicians, and civil society groups worldwide. Danish Parliament members Rosa Lund and Sascha Faxe condemned the attack, with Faxe highlighting its potential qualification as an act of terrorism.

Asria Taleb, a Saharawi activist in Norway, described the attack as “an assault on democracy, society, and civil movements,” emphasizing the importance of protecting advocacy organizations like Global Aktion.

A call to action

The POLISARIO Front has urged the international community to unequivocally condemn the attack and demand accountability from Morocco. Advocates stress that the attack highlights the urgent need to refocus global attention on the Saharawi people’s fight for independence.

“This act of terror is a stark reminder of Morocco’s determination to suppress the growing global support for the Saharawi cause,” the POLISARIO statement asserted. “But we remain undeterred. Our struggle for freedom and justice will continue until Western Sahara is free.”

As investigations unfold, the attack on Global Aktion serves as a wake-up call for the international community. It underscores the risks faced by organizations advocating for human rights and the pressing need to support the Saharawi people’s quest for self-determination. For now, the flames of violence have only fueled the determination of advocates to stand united against oppression and injustice worldwide.