Sécurité Collapse of Polisario’s Security Apparatus

The Forum for Supporting Autonomy Advocates in Tindouf Camps, known as “Forsatin”, revealed that the Laayoune camp witnessed armed clashes between drug trafficking gangs, sparking fear among camp residents amid the complete absence of Polisario elements and deafening silence from the Algerian army. This incident reflects the disintegration of the Polisario’s structure and growing internal decay, especially with the potential classification of the group as a terrorist organization by Washington and the desertion of most of its international backers.

• Polisario Hints at Accepting Moroccan Sovereignty through Autonomy Initiative

• Sahrawis for Peace Movement: A Third Way Gains Strength as an Alternative to the Polisario

“Forsatin” published images showing a large-scale assault by one smuggling faction against a rival group to settle old scores. The incident highlights Polisario’s fear of openly confronting these smuggling networks, due to the close ties many Polisario leaders maintain with arms and drug traffickers, using them for personal and political purposes.

According to the same source, tribal elders publicly accused Polisario leaders of tacit collusion with these armed groups, also implicating the Algerian authorities in supporting them to terrorize civilians.

This is not the first time the Tindouf camps have witnessed armed confrontations. Last February, clashes erupted between Algerian security forces and Polisario’s so-called “military police.”

• Efforts by the United States to Classify the Polisario Front as a “Terrorist Organization” – What’s the Story?

• Algeria Blocks Census of Tindouf Residents for Fear of Exposing Polisario Corruption

Human rights organizations and many Sahrawis have launched urgent appeals to international bodies to investigate the Polisario’s human rights violations and their practices of extortion and intimidation within the camps.

As the situation worsens under Polisario’s control, where civilians continue to pay the price of a conflict lasting over half a century, reports indicate that the Polisario’s image is deteriorating even in the eyes of Algeria, its main political and military backer.

Recently, “Forsatin” also reported the defection of three Polisario members who crossed into Moroccan territory near the Am Drika area, dressed in Polisario military uniforms and raising a white peace flag — reflecting growing dissent and dissatisfaction among Polisario fighters. According to the source, this underlines the widening gap between the separatist movement’s official propaganda and the reality on the ground.

• Ireland Refutes Algerian and Polisario Claims Regarding Ghali’s Visit to Dublin

• Spanish security unveils Polisario’s ties to a human trafficking and smuggling network

Algeria, which has fueled the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara for decades by supporting the separatists and refusing to join roundtable negotiations, may soon face increased pressure from the United States, especially following President Donald Trump’s administration’s clear support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the final and only solution to the dispute.

The Moroccan site “Al Omk Al Maghribi” quoted Abdel Fattah Fatihi, President of the Sahara and Africa Center for Strategic Studies, affirming that the defection of Polisario military elements signals a significant erosion of military loyalty to the Front’s leadership and to Algeria, as well as growing defiance against orders to participate in combat operations against Morocco.

• Renewal of confidence in the Sánchez Government deals a blow to Polisario’s bets

• Iran plans to expand its influence in North Africa through the Polisario

He also pointed out that the incident could signal the beginning of mass defections by separatist fighters to the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces or to MINURSO, encouraged by the strong U.S. stance supporting the Moroccan autonomy proposal.

According to the same expert, this trend will likely encourage more fighters to rebel collectively against their military command, increasing internal pressure on Polisario’s leadership in Rabouni and potentially turning the Tindouf camps into a flashpoint against the Algerian army.

• Polisario Front attempts to deceive with forgeries and deception in its separatist agenda

• Polisario Leader Returns to Algeria after Spain-Morocco Row