Polisario Front Threatens ICC Case Against Spanish PM Over Western Sahara Stance

"Spain’s change of position is a big surprise. We did not expect to see the socialist leader follow in Franco’s footsteps," said the lawyer, lamenting that Spain, the administering power designated by the UN for the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, had "abandoned this mandate" for a "famous" agreement with Morocco.

To read: Spain Shifts Stance on Western Sahara, Aims to Play Active Role in Conflict Resolution

Devers also indicated that President Pedro Sanchez risked being prosecuted before international judicial bodies for making such a decision. "The question of prosecuting Pedro Sanchez before the International Criminal Court for complicity in war crimes arises, because he supports the occupation of the Sahrawi territory by an armed force," he argued.

To read: Spain Backs Morocco’s Sahara Autonomy Plan in Major Policy Shift

"The status of Western Sahara is a matter of international law and it is regrettable that the socialist Sanchez is aligning himself with Trump’s positions by unilaterally deciding the sovereignty of this territory," he denounced, adding that Spain "has an important role to play in peace in this region." Earlier this week, Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali described the Spanish government’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara as "regrettable and shameful."