Torn choices

Sahara: The Polisario Front, guided by Algeria, is losing its way

By Nina Kozlowski

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Posted on January 26, 2022 06:33

Firefox_Screenshot_2022-01-24T14-01-48.887Z Brahim Ghali, president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and secretary-general of the Polisario Front, meets with UN envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in Tindouf, Algeria, 16 January 2022. © Ramzi Boudina/REUTERS
Brahim Ghali, president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and secretary-general of the Polisario Front, meets with UN envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in Tindouf, Algeria, 16 January 2022. © Ramzi Boudina/REUTERS

Although the Polisario has been taking up arms against Morocco since November 2020, its leaders are finding it difficult to agree on an official position vis-à-vis the UN.

More than a revelation, a confirmation. Within the Polisario Front’s ranks, cacophony reigns. On 15 and 16 January, Staffan de Mistura, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to the Sahara, visited Tindouf. This trip only further sowed the seeds of discord.

On 14 January, the day before the UN envoy’s arrival in Tindouf, Sidi Mohamed Ammar, the Polisario Front’s representative to the UN and the Minurso’s coordinator, gave a press conference from the Boujdour refugee camp.

Against all odds, the diplomat does not support holding a referendum. According to him, the Front “no longer feels that the referendum on self-determination is a possible solution, but instead is clinging to its belief that Western Sahara has a legitimate right to total independence”, before adding that “the Saharawi people maintain their right to defend themselves by all legitimate means”. This is a logical

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