The Moroccan authorities on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, prevented a delegation of politicians supportive of the Polisario separatists from entering the city of Laayoune, confirming to them that they were unwelcome individuals.
The Spanish Congress deputy from the Podemos party, Noemà Santana, and the member of the Gran Canaria Council responsible for international solidarity, Carmelo RamÃrez (from the Nueva Canarias party), were prevented from disembarking from the plane at Laayoune Airport.
The delegation, which also included Fernando Ruiz, the communications secretary of the Podemos party in the Canary Islands, claimed it intended to carry out a field observation mission on the human rights situation in the region and meet with representatives of the Sahrawi civil society.
According to a statement issued by the Podemos party, the delegation was forced to return immediately to Gran Canaria Airport after being prevented from leaving the plane.
