Advocating for the Saharawi

NFI advocates for an end to the last illegally occupied country in Africa – Western Sahara – which would result in the freedom of the Western Sahara citizens to reunite and live in peace in their homeland country after having endured forced exile and ongoing violations of essential human rights since 1975.

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to keep this issue before the governments that can possibly make a difference, and several countries, including the U.S., have publicly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara or recognized Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the Saharawi’s former homeland.

However, in May 2025, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton recently wrote on the issue, and is shining a light again on a referendum-based solution for Western Sahara.  You can access Mr. Bolton’s article here.

Join us in advocating for the Saharawi’s right to self-determination, by contacting the Senator and U.S. Representatives for your district. Express your concern over this unresolved conflict and the plight of the Saharawi people, who are still living in what have become the oldest refugee camps in the world.

Most Senators and Representatives have forms on their individual websites, whereby you can send them a message.  We’ve included a sample letter below, and urge you to personalize it, especially if you have visited the Saharawi camps or have personal knowledge or experience.

How do I contact my U.S. Senator?

How do I contact my U.S. Representatives?

Sample Letter:     

Subject: Support for Sahrawi Self-Determination – A Call to Renew U.S. Leadership on a Referendum

Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],

I’m writing to express my concern over the long-standing and unresolved issue of Western Sahara, and to encourage your office to take a renewed interest in supporting a just and democratic solution for the Sahrawi people. I support the work of Not Forgotten International (NFI), a Wisconsin-based non-profit, that has long been involved in the Saharawi refugee camps. NFI has fostered hundreds, if not thousands of relationships with Saharawi refugees in the camps near Tindouf, Algeria. Through ongoing partnership, they continue to be witness to the Saharawi’s tremendous capacity, tenacity, hope and endurance. It is our deep conviction that our lawmakers can–and should–do more to facilitate a lasting solution for the hundreds of thousands of Saharawis who remain without a homeland.

A recent opinion article by former National Security Advisor John Bolton, published in The Washington Times (May 28, 2025), highlighted the urgent need for the United States to return to its earlier position of advocating for a free and fair referendum—as outlined in U.N. Security Council Resolution 690 (1991). Mr. Bolton underscored that the continued obstruction of this referendum by the Moroccan government has left tens of thousands of Sahrawis in limbo, many of them still living in refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria.

With growing geopolitical competition across North Africa, now is not the time to ignore one of Africa’s last unresolved colonial-era disputes. Supporting Sahrawi self-determination would not only uphold democratic principles but also help stabilize a region increasingly vulnerable to outside influence.

I respectfully urge you and your staff to:

• Engage with the State Department to ensure our foreign policy aligns with long-standing U.N. commitments.
• Consider visiting or assigning a staff delegation to the Sahrawi refugee camps to hear firsthand from those affected.
• Revisit the U.S. commitment to a referendum for the Sahrawi people.

Thank you for your leadership and for giving this matter your attention.

Sincerely,
[Name]

[Address]
[City, State]