Kidnapped Man Pleading for Help Sparks Concerns About Deteriorating Situation in Tindouf
Rabat – New reports have expressed concerns about the repeated and systematic kidnapping cases in the Algeria-controlled Tindouf camps.
A new report from the Sahrawi Autonomy Support Forum (FORSATIN) has condemned the kidnapping of an elderly man, who appeared in a new video calling for his son's intervention.
FORSATIN said the man asks his son to give the gang who kidnapped him 'what they want or to hand over the individuals involved in stealing their goods.'
In the video, the man said he is suffering a 'slow death' for something he did not do, urging his son to intervene if he is still alive or dead.'
'This statement suggests that the elder can no longer bear the captivity and is pleading with his son, even if deceased, as a sign that he can no longer endure his abduction and is turning to the dead for help to end his suffering,' FORSATIN wrote.
The outlet further stressed how Sahrawi residents of the Polisario-run Tindouf camps are 'currently in shock and disbelief' following the release of the new video, calling for urgent intervention to save his life.
FORSATIN also cited information that suggests the involvement of a prominent Polisario leader with the kidnapping gang, which led the separatist group to distance themselves from the issue.
'This has become no secret, as many Polisario leaders are involved in drug trafficking, smuggling, and employing criminals and outlaws to transport and distribute drugs while providing them full protection,' the forum added.
The camps, where the correct number of Sahrawis is unidentified due to Algeria's refusal to allow a census, experience similar crises in their daily lives.
Many protests took place in the camps to condemn the systematic kidnapping of Sahrawis, including former leaders from the separatist group.
Some of the protests took place to lash out at the Polisario leadership for the unsolved case of Ahmed El Khalil, a Polisario member who went missing for more than 16 years under unknown circumstances.
Many Sahrawis have been condemning his disappearance without a clear response from the leadership. His family has been putting pressure on the separatist group, condemning the mysterious disappearance of their family members.
Earlier this month, a Sahrawi NGO called Promotion of Economic and Social Development shed light on the dire living conditions in the camps due to an increase in criminal acts and violence.
'Recent reports show that the geographical isolation of the camps, far from any international monitoring, contributes to aggravating these violations ,' member of the NGO Fatima Ezzahrae Zouhairi said during her intervention at a recent Human Rights Council session.
The most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, are especially exposed to physical and psychological violence, as well as inhumane living conditions, she said. Tags: France and Tindoufhuman rights violations in tindouf camps
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
7 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
With Kenya and Ghana backing Morocco, Polisario turns to Nigeria
The Polisario Front has expressed concern over the possibility of Nigeria officially recognizing Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following similar moves by Kenya and Ghana. In an effort to prevent such a development, the Polisario's «Minister of Foreign Affairs» traveled to Abuja in hopes of meeting with his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar. However, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat was only received by the Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, as briefly noted by the ministry on its official X account. For its part, the Polisario's press agency released a statement saying the discussions focused on bilateral relations, ways to strengthen them, and other topics of mutual interest. It is worth recalling that Nigeria established diplomatic relations with the Polisario in 1984, and Abuja currently hosts a Polisario «embassy». Beissat's visit comes at a time when Kenya and Ghana, long viewed as steadfast supporters of the Polisario, have publicly expressed their backing for Morocco's autonomy plan. It is also notable that a delegation from Nigeria's National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies visited Algeria at the end of May.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Is Algeria using Polisario Front members to shield Kaïs Saïed's regime ?
The Polisario Front was recently the subject of a phone conversation between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Tunisian counterpart Kaïs Saïed, held during Eid al-Adha. In this exchange, Tebboune reportedly asked Saïed «to host certain personalities from the Polisario Front currently living in the Tindouf camps», according to the weekly Jeune Afrique. Several leaks further suggest the presence of Polisario officials in Tunisia. Since Saïed's ascent to power on July 25, 2021, Tunisia has notably abandoned its long-standing neutral stance on the Western Sahara issue, a position maintained since the era of Habib Bourguiba. This policy shift was underscored by Saïed's reception of Brahim Ghali, the Polisario leader, at Tunis airport during a Japan-Africa summit in August 2022, as well as Tunisia's abstention during a UN Security Council resolution vote on the Sahara in October 2022. In apparent reciprocity, Algeria has provided significant financial support to Tunisia through loans and donations, particularly in December 2022 and March 2023. The Algerian company Sonelgaz also contributes to supporting its Tunisian ally by supplying electricity and gas. Ensuring the Longevity of the Saïed Regime A Moroccan source, speaking to Yabiladi, confirmed Jeune Afrique's information regarding Tebboune's request, stating that «for the past two or three months, dozens of Polisario members have entered Tunisia with Algerian passports». Our source elaborated, «Their mission is to protect the Tunisian regime against a potential revolution or coup, especially as protests against Saïed's decisions are gaining momentum, threatening the regime's stability. Algeria does not want to lose another ally in the region, especially after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and the retreat of the national unity government forces in Libya in the face of Khalifa Haftar's advance». The source emphasized the strategic importance for Algeria: «Saïed's regime is Algeria's last declared ally in North Africa and the Sahel. Mauritania, for its part, has distanced itself from Algerian projects and has decided to put an end to the Polisario's border violations. In this context, the survival of the Tunisian regime is crucial for Algeria, as protests against Saïed multiply». It is worth noting that the majority of senior Polisario officials hold Spanish or Mauritanian nationality. As a historical reminder, Polisario elements, with Algeria's support, have previously fought alongside the armies of Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar Al-Assad. However, these reinforcements did not prevent the eventual fall of those regimes.
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
International Calls to Label Polisario as Terrorists Intensify Amid Scrutiny of Separatists' Violent Past
Rabat – International appeals are mounting to confront Polisario's violent past and ongoing threats to regional stability. Igacio Ortiz published a new opinion piece on June 10 in La Provincia, in which he recalled Polisario's terrorist attacks against workers from Fos Bucraa, fishermen from the Canary Islands, and civilians from the Basque Country, among others. The author cited well-documented attacks reported by the Canary Association of Victims of Terrorism, also known as ACAVITE, noting that similar crimes reveal 'glaring historical evidence of terrorism' that the US cannot overlook. Violent past against Spanish workers ACAVITE has long been filing complaints against Polisario, calling for justice due to the separatist group's involvement in assassinating 300 people, mostly businessmen and fishermen. It also advocated for victims who were injured, tortured, or kidnapped by Polisario's militia between 1970 and 1980. Spain has acknowledged the presence of victims of the Polisario Front but failed to hold the Polisario leader responsible. In April 2021, Polisario's leader Brahim Ghali entered Spanish soil under a fake passport and the fake name of Mohamed Ben Battouch to escape judicial cases and complaints against him. He traveled to Spain for hospitalization, a case that sparked political tension with Morocco. It was not until April 2022 that Spain and Morocco opened a new chapter in their relations when Madrid endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution to end the dispute. For the author, similar calls to designate the Polisario as a terrorist group should not be a mere political theater. 'On the contrary, it should be a moral imperative,' the opinion piece reads, recalling Polisario's direct involvement in war crimes and terror attacks against workers from Fos Bucara and fishermen from the Canary Islands and the Basque Country. Notably, the piece zoomed in on Polisario leader Ghali and his direct involvement in terrorist attacks, noting his past included coordinated attacks killing seven Spanish crew members in 1978 in a high-profile crime referred to as the Cruz del Mar incident. Ghali, who was Polisario's Minister of Defense at the time, was also involved in the Mencey de Abona hijacking in 1980, where Captain Domingo Quintana was found strangled with a Polisario flag tied around his body. 'These are just a couple of examples among many, despite the political and media silence, particularly in the Canary Islands,' the author wrote. The piece further stressed that Polisario's crimes are backed by Spanish court documents and extensive press archives, showing that the group has been operating as a terrorist militia for decades. Ortiz also recalled the growing calls from politicians worldwide, urging their countries to label the Polisario Front as a terrorist group. International appeal In April, US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson announced that he would introduce legislation to that effect. 'I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists,' Wilson said, accusing Algeria and Russia of using the separatist front to gain a strategic foothold in Africa. Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defense in the UK, also made the same appeal earlier this year, saying: 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation.' Several research institutions and think tanks made similar appeals, shattering Polisario's self-portrayal as a liberation movement and unmasking its terrorist acts as an armed group that is involved in terrorist attacks, arms smuggling, and the indoctrination of youth. Among these institutions is the Hudson Institute, which recently stated: 'The Polisario Front claims to fight for self-determination in the region. But the organization carries a legacy of destabilization.' A new report from The National Interest made similar remarks in a new publication authored by Ahmed Sahrawi, who recalled the ongoing momentum in favor of Morocco's position in Western Sahara. Notably, the piece recalled the UK's newfound position, endorsing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political framework to end the dispute for the first time in the country's history. Over 113 countries, including Kenya and Ghana, have joined the chorus to emphasize the viability of the autonomy initiative as the sole path to end the Western Sahara dispute, long exploited by the Algerian regime to advance its interests and challenge Morocco's territorial integrity over its southern provinces. La Provincia's new opinion piece recalled all the latest publications that have shed light on Polisario's criminal record, including the Washington Post's latest report quoting European officials who confirmed that Polisario fighters, based in Algeria, received training from Iran's proxy Hezbollah. 'Over the years, Iran has fostered a wide array of proxy groups to advance its interests,' the report said, quoting a regional official and a third European official who said Iran trained fighters from the 'Algeria-based Polisario Front,' who are now detained by Syria's new security forces. It also detailed the threats Polisario has directed at anyone and any country cooperating with Morocco, including Mauritania. 'Mustafa Sayed had already defended terrorism a year earlier, using his typical violent and dangerous rhetoric to incite Sahrawis to carry out terrorist acts against Moroccan interests in Western Sahara,' La Provincia wrote. Concluding the opinion piece, Ortiz said the US administration has an opportunity to declare Polisario a terrorist organization 'not only for its alliances with Iran or Hezbollah, but for its crimes against the citizens of Spain.' Tags: Brahim GhaliPolisario Front
