The Global Legal Action Network has submitted a formal complaint against San Leon Energy PLC today (24/10/2018) for violating the human rights of the people of Western Sahara, two-thirds of which Morocco controls by force and has sought to annex under its domestic law. The complaint alleges that the company failed to ensure that it has the consent of the Western Saharan people before drilling for oil on their land...

[T]he complaint was filed before Ireland’s National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)...

The complaint shows that companies like San Leon who are required to ensure that any business dealings in the Western Sahara occurs with the prior consent of the Sahrawi people, cannot do so while operating in Western Sahara under the aegis and authority of Morocco...

The legal complaint highlights the untenable position of the Irish government on this issue. While upholding the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi people, and maintaining that Morocco has the status of a non-sovereign in the territory, the Irish government has simultaneously tolerated Irish companies operating in breach of these positions...