Tecber Ahmed Saleh of Western Sahara speaks in Kirikiriroa

Western Saharan health worker and activist Tecber Ahmed Saleh is coming to Hamilton to talk about life in Africa's last colony.

Tecber was born in the Saharawi refugee camps, and currently works in the camps for the Ministry of Health. She will speak about the conditions of life there and the larger political issues facing Western Sahara, including the role of two New Zealand fertiliser companies in enabling the Moroccan military occupation of Western Sahara.

Background:
In 1975 Morocco invaded Western Sahara. Saharawis fled the occupation and now 173,600 people remain in refugee camps. The Saharawi continue their non-violent struggle, waiting for the United Nations referendum of self- determination agreed in 1991.

In 2018 Ravensdown and Ballance agri-nutrients purchased $90 million of phosphate from the Moroccan royal family controlled OCP group. Representatives of Polisario, the independence movement for Western Sahara, state that the trade in conflict phosphates funds the occupation, stalls the peace process and indicates New Zealand's de-facto recognition of the occupation.

As an advocate for the Saharawi cause, Tecber has written and contributed to articles to raise awareness about the plight of her people. Tecber studied Biology in the USA and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. She has attended medical research conferences and co-authored research in the professional journal Toxics.