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May 02, 2025 – Morocco –
In late April 2025, Moroccan authorities deported two Italian journalists, Matteo Garavoglia and Giovanni Colmoni, after they attempted to enter Laayoune, the principal city in Western Sahara, without official authorization. The journalists had previously tried to access the city via Hassan I Airport and subsequently by land, actions that Moroccan officials deemed violations of national sovereignty and legal procedures concerning visits to the southern provinces.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the expulsions, describing them as indicative of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to suppress independent reporting in the disputed territory. CPJ’s regional director, Sara Qudah, emphasized that such actions contribute to a “repressive media blockade” in Western Sahara, where transparency is already severely limited.
These deportations are part of a broader pattern of restrictions on press freedom in Western Sahara. According to Sahrawi human rights sources, over 300 observers and journalists have been expelled from the region, highlighting the challenges faced by media professionals attempting to report on human rights conditions in the area.
The international community has expressed concern over Morocco’s actions. The European Parliament has previously called on Moroccan authorities to cease surveillance and censorship of journalists, urging respect for freedom of expression and the press.
Morocco maintains that its actions are in line with national laws and necessary to uphold sovereignty, especially in regions it considers integral parts of the country. However, human rights organizations and press freedom advocates argue that these measures undermine the ability to report on critical issues, including the ongoing dispute over Western Sahara’s status and alleged human rights violations in the region.
Reference –
Morocco deports 2 journalists trying to enter Western Sahara
