Rabat – Around 75% of Sahrawis in Morocco’s southern provinces have so far participated in the country’s 2021 general elections, which kicked off at 8 a.m. today.
The votes enable Sahrawis to elect their mayors and representatives to the Rabat-based legislative chamber.
Videos and photos are going viral of masses of citizens campaigning for the elections in the southern province of Laayoune.
Some of the photos depict women and men celebrating the elections.
Estas imágenes no se verán en España ?? Los saharauis participando de forma libre y democrática al Ayuntamiento del Aaiun y a la cámara de representantes en Rabat. pic.twitter.com/gYkDltdWas
— ????? ? ?????????? (@altamiranoMLG) September 7, 2021
Vocal Spanish political scientist Pedro Igancio Altamirano has expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic turnout in the southern provinces.
Altamirano, who is a vocal supporter of the Moroccan position on Western Sahara, shared videos of Sahrawis celebrating during the electoral campaign.
In one of his posts, Altamirano said: “Such images will not be seen in Spain. The Sahrawis [are] participating freely and democratically in elections for the Laayoune city council and the House of Representatives in Rabat.”
Recently, Morocco’s ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, emphasized the country’s efforts to guarantee rights to local populations in southern provinces.
Hilale recalled the “massive” participation of Sahrawis in Morocco’s previous legislative, municipal, communal, and regional elections.
He said that the previous elections in Morocco marked the highest turnout in Morocco, with a rate of more than 65%.
He said that this number is “by no means the case of the very low participation of 0.1% in Kabylia, Algeria.”
The elections in Morocco are running until 7 p.m. today.
About 31 parties are racing for votes to secure a place in the government coalition.
At 12 p.m., turnout in the elections reached 12% nationwide, according to the ministry of interior.
