Dwelling-sharing platform Airbnb has not too long ago bowed to strain from a international activist group, eradicating authentic references to Morocco from lodging listings situated within the nation’s southern provinces.
The transfer represents a troubling capitulation to political manipulation that ignores the fact on the bottom, because the platform quietly up to date its web site after receiving a letter from Western Sahara Useful resource Watch (WSRW).
Responding to WSRW, a community of international activists with no connection to the area, Airbnb has eliminated cities like Laayoune, Dakhla, and Boujdour, which have been integral elements of Morocco for many years.
Foreign interference in Morocco’s home affairs
WSRW’s letter to Airbnb on June 13, 2025, represents one more try by international activists to intervene in Morocco’s inner affairs.
The group, which operates from European capitals, has no authentic standing to dictate how worldwide firms ought to label Moroccan territory.
Erik Hagen of WSRW has celebrated what he referred to as a “first step,” revealing the group’s final aim: to economically isolate Morocco’s southern provinces and undermine the event tasks which have reworked the area.
The transfer reveals international lobbied interference searching for to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity. Algeria’s regime continues to steer lobbying efforts, spending billions of {dollars} to problem Morocco’s territorial integrity by backing the Polisario Entrance.
WSRW’s celebration of Airbnb’s determination as aligning with “worldwide courtroom rulings” ignores the rising worldwide recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
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Morocco has been garnering rising worldwide assist for its sovereignty over provinces in Western Sahara.
A rising variety of nations have endorsed Morocco’s autonomy initiative, exceeding 115 nations, together with main worldwide powers just like the US, UK, France, and Spain.
A number of nations have opened consulates within the area, and main worldwide agreements acknowledge Morocco’s administrative management.
Airbnb’s determination is more likely to obtain a response, not solely from the federal government but in addition from Moroccans.
Many Moroccans use Airbnb to ebook lodging throughout the nation.
Moroccans are identified to reply swiftly to such strikes, usually launching campaigns that don’t go unnoticed.
Just lately, Glovo drivers in Morocco staged protests after the corporate displayed a map that excluded the nation’s southern provinces.
The demonstrations gained traction each on-line and on the bottom, prompting Glovo to subject a press release blaming the incident on a technical error and claiming the problem had been resolved.
The incident echoes Morocco’s constant stance, emphasizing that the Sahara file is the lens by way of which the nation views all worldwide relations and nationwide priorities.