New Internationalist. The people, the ideas, the action in the fight for global justice.

In the aftermath of protesting students' deaths, Nikolaj Nielsen reflects on the world's abandonment of Western Sahara.

Nikolaj Nielsen is caught up in the aftermath as two Western Saharan students are murdered in Morocco.

 Just over two years ago the Spanish government - desperate to stop migrant workers from crossing into Spain from the Sahara - came to an agreement with the Senegalese government to deploy their coast guard. They also agreed to set up a school for youths in the hope that would stop them from selling DVDs and umbrellas in Granada and Barcelona. It didn't. Thousands more came and are still coming. They put up electric fences in Morocco and arranged with the Moroccan police to deport migrants - many were dumped in the desert by the Moroccan authorities. With Morocco closed, Mauritania became the new departure point for crossing into Spain. The Atlantic waters being far more treacherous than the Mediterranean has meant thousands drowning in the small wooden boats during the crossings. In one of the most horrendous crossings, 47 Senegalese were left adrift to die in the Atlantic. The boat with the bodies was eventually found in Barbados.

People in Western Sahara have been waiting 43 years for their rights under international law