logo
US Congressman Joe Wilson introduces bill to sanction Polisario Front as terrorist organization

US Congressman Joe Wilson introduces bill to sanction Polisario Front as terrorist organization

Ya Biladi12 hours ago

US Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives calling for sanctions on the Polisario Front and proposing its designation as a foreign terrorist organization.
Wilson, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, shared the news this Thursday on his account on X, writing:
The Polisario is a Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco, a U.S. ally for 248 years.
Grateful to introduce bipartisan legislation with @RepJimmyPanetta to designate the Polisario… pic.twitter.com/ESQjgwefLo
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) June 26, 2025
He expressed pride in introducing the bill «with bipartisan support», in collaboration with Democratic Representative Jimmy Panetta.
Republicans currently hold the majority in both chambers of Congress, with 220 seats to 215 in the House, and 53 to 47 in the Senate.
In April, Wilson met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and wrote in a post on X that their discussions focused on «longstanding partnership and commitment to peace in the region, particularly stability in the Sahara in the face of Polisario terrorists».
It is worth noting that the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara in December 2020. Since President Trump's return to office this past January, the U.S. has reaffirmed that position, as reiterated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UN honors Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi at International Day of Women in Diplomacy
UN honors Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi at International Day of Women in Diplomacy

Ya Biladi

time22 minutes ago

  • Ya Biladi

UN honors Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi at International Day of Women in Diplomacy

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights paid tribute Tuesday in Geneva to Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi, a pioneer of African female diplomacy, who passed away on May 14 after a distinguished career in international service. «Women, in all their diversity, have been working in diplomacy for generations. Halima Ouarzazi from Morocco and Belela Herrera from Uruguay, both recently deceased, are two cherished examples among many», said Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner, at the opening of an event marking the International Day of Women in Diplomacy during the 59th Human Rights Council (HRC) session. Ouarzazi represented Morocco with distinction, serving as Chair of the UN Third Committee, an expert with the UN Committee against Apartheid and Racial Discrimination, and a member of both the Council and Executive Committee of the International Institute of Human Rights. She also sat on the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. Her legacy was also honored through a photography exhibition titled Women Leaders in Multilateralism and Diplomacy, held at the Palais des Nations from June 24 to July 4. This year marks the first observance of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, focused on removing barriers to women's leadership in peace and diplomacy. The event follows HRC Resolution 58/15, led by Morocco during the Council's 58th session. Backed by a cross-regional group including Chile, the Maldives, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, and Mauritius, the resolution reflects a core priority of Moroccan foreign policy: advancing gender equality and promoting women's leadership in diplomacy and multilateral spaces. The group also called for stronger recognition of women's contributions in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and decision-making, including within the Human Rights Council itself.

Morocco to host Syrian President Ahmed Al-Charaa for official visit
Morocco to host Syrian President Ahmed Al-Charaa for official visit

Ya Biladi

time22 minutes ago

  • Ya Biladi

Morocco to host Syrian President Ahmed Al-Charaa for official visit

Morocco is preparing to welcome Syrian President Ahmed Al-Charaa in the coming weeks. «On the agenda for this official visit: talks with King Mohammed VI and the reopening of the Syrian embassy in Rabat», a well-informed source told Yabiladi. It's worth noting that Syria's diplomatic mission in Morocco has been closed since July 2012, following Rabat's decision to expel the last ambassador of Bashar Al-Assad's regime. «Cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, in the presence of both heads of state. Moroccan and Syrian officials have been working on these agreements for several months. The Moroccan side has identified specific areas where it can support the new authorities in Damascus», the same source added. In a congratulatory message sent on February 4 to mark Ahmed Al-Charaa's appointment as President of the Syrian Arab Republic during the transitional period, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed Morocco's support for the Syrian people during «this delicate and decisive stage of their history», in line with the Kingdom's longstanding position in favor of Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. On May 27, President Ahmed Al-Charaa's government cut ties with the Polisario Front. In the presence of Moroccan representatives, the new Syrian authorities declared the separatist group persona non grata and shut down its offices in Damascus.

Geneva meeting urges UN to grant «refugee status» to Sahrawis in Tindouf
Geneva meeting urges UN to grant «refugee status» to Sahrawis in Tindouf

Ya Biladi

time22 minutes ago

  • Ya Biladi

Geneva meeting urges UN to grant «refugee status» to Sahrawis in Tindouf

On the sidelines of the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held from June 16 to July 9, a meeting focused on the right of return for Sahrawis was held on June 25 in Geneva, organized by international advocacy groups. «The conference aimed to advocate for the right of return of Sahrawis held in the Tindouf camps in Algeria», Abdelouahab Gaïn, president of the Africa Watch Human Rights Association, told Yabiladi. «These camps are the scene of ongoing human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, rape, torture, and degrading treatment that undermines human dignity», said Gaïn, who took part in the meeting. Participants called on the international community to intervene and ensure the protection of those held in the Tindouf camps, in line with international human rights conventions and the resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council. Gaïn also noted that an appeal had been made to UN special rapporteurs on human rights to urge Algeria to conduct a census of the population in the camps. Mustapha Salma's Call from Mauritania The Africa Watch president also deplored the fact that residents of the Tindouf camps are still denied refugee status in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol. This status would allow displaced persons the option to return to their country of origin or settle in a host country. Gaïn emphasized that the camp population is also denied freedom of movement. Permits to leave the camps are issued sparingly by Algerian authorities and the Polisario Front. Thousands of kilometers away, Mustapha Salma—an outspoken critic of the Polisario leadership since his fallout with the group in 2010—echoed this concern on the occasion of World Refugee Day, marked each year on June 20. He recalled UN Security Council resolutions calling on Algeria to register Sahrawis living in the camps. «Refugee status is a contract between the host country and the asylum seeker, coordinated through the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)», he explained on social media. «Once the application is approved, the UNHCR assumes responsibility for the refugee, in coordination with the host country and its institutions». Salma warned that such a development is deeply feared by the Polisario. «Stripped of its authority over the Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps, the Polisario Front would no longer be able to freely recruit them or exploit them for its political agenda», said the exile, currently based in Mauritania.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store