Book & Archives: Hungary has published “Western Sahara and Hungary,” by János Besenyő, drawing on newly opened Eastern Bloc communist archives to trace the territory’s colonial history and decolonization efforts. Human Rights in Focus (Geneva): At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sahrawi researcher Hayat Said and NOVACT’s Mahfud Bechri said 2025 saw nearly 170 documented violations in occupied Western Sahara, alongside an “information blockade,” land confiscations for green energy, and drone strikes; they also warned the real toll is higher due to bans on independent monitoring. Civilian Protection & Security: African experts at a Geneva side event condemned attacks attributed to the Polisario Front on civilians in Smara and urged accountability under international humanitarian law, framing the incidents within a wider regional security crisis. Drugs & Maritime Link: Spain destroyed over 30 tonnes of cocaine seized in the Atlantic off the coast of Western Sahara, in what authorities call the country’s largest recorded seizure. Water as Strategy: A new analysis argues Maghreb states must treat water as a strategic sovereignty issue, not just a technical problem, as drought and desalination costs intensify. Defense Tech & Regional Power: Commentary highlights Morocco’s defense modernization with Israeli-linked drone production and contrasts it with Algeria’s record military spending, tying the arms race to shifting regional security dynamics. Local Food Tech: In Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, a fish-farming project is supplying fresh tilapia to thousands, improving nutrition in a harsh desert setting.