Morocco uses torture at home, Western Sahara, UN says

“There is a lot of evidence of excessive use of force,” said Juan Mendez, adding, “Whenever there is a sense that national security is involved, there is a tendency to use torture in interrogation. Difficult to say how pervasive or how systematic it is, but it happens frequently enough that the government of Morocco should not ignore the practice.”

The UN official made the remarks at a press conference on Monday, after presenting a report to the UN General Assembly about his special trip to Morocco and Western Sahara.

Mendez went to Morocco and Western Sahara in September upon the Moroccan government’s invitation.

Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, which is currently ruled by Morocco and bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975 and the Polisario Front has been fighting for its independence since before the annexation.

The Polisario Front fought a guerrilla war against Moroccan forces until 1991, when the United Nations mediated a ceasefire between the two sides with the agreement that a referendum would be held to determine the final status of the territory. However, the referendum has never been held.