Tensions Rise in Tindouf Camps and Wave of Exodus from Polisario’s Grip

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A large segment of Sahrawis detained under Polisario’s control in the Tindouf camps supports the autonomy proposal as the only viable solution to end the artificial conflict manufactured by Algeria and the separatist front.

The Tindouf camps, run by Polisario in western Algeria, are witnessing increasing tension, threatening to explode after gold miners were shot dead by the Algerian army and others were wounded. The incident triggered widespread protests that escalated into clashes between residents and members of the separatist front. Polisario attempted to suppress the uprising with an iron fist, fearing it would lose control over the camps—especially amid the growing wave of escapes to nearby areas in search of freedom from militia rule.

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Observers note that this Sahrawi “uprising” reflects a strong desire to break free from Polisario’s domination, given its violations and the deprivation of the most basic rights, including access to humanitarian and financial aid, which is monopolized by the leadership and its loyalists. Reports consistently highlight the worsening social conditions despite the massive funds allocated by international bodies to improve living standards in the area.

Demands are growing among Tindouf camp residents to return to their original cities in Moroccan Sahara. Others are calling for the swift implementation of the autonomy solution under Moroccan sovereignty to resolve a conflict perpetuated by Polisario and its Algerian sponsor.

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These demands come as the southern provinces experience a development boom, with many foreign companies preparing to launch projects across various sectors. The cities of Moroccan Sahara boast significant potential and advanced infrastructure, all within a development strategy personally overseen by King Mohammed VI.

Recently, several Sahrawi groups have intensified actions opposing Polisario’s separatist ideology, carrying out retaliatory attacks against the so-called “gendarmerie forces” of the front in response to increasing repression in the camps.

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These developments point to the separatist front’s state of confusion and concern over losing its financial gain from the humanitarian crisis of the Sahrawis—especially as global support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara continues to grow, led by powers like the United States.

The Trump administration reaffirmed its unwavering stance on the Moroccan issue this week. During a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. considers “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty the only viable solution” to the fabricated Sahara conflict.

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Morocco is closer than ever to a just resolution of this long-standing issue, especially after France pledged, following its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, to support the Kingdom’s position in international forums, including the UN Security Council.

Human rights organizations are calling for an investigation into violations committed by Polisario, which have caused growing discontent among Sahrawis and pushed many youth to flee the camps and join extremist groups in the region, including the Islamic State (ISIS).

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The Moroccan Human Rights and Environment Organization, which includes natives of the Moroccan Sahara, confirmed a state of popular unrest in the Tindouf camps. It stated that “protesters are raising the slogan of returning to Morocco—a direct message reflecting internal rejection of the continued siege and marginalization imposed by the front with Algerian support.”

The organization added that recent protests “reflect the mounting anger within the camps, especially as living conditions have become harsher due to widespread corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of hope. An inhumane situation driving many to risk their lives to escape or demand to return to their homeland, the Kingdom of Morocco.”

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Finally, it condemned what it called the “devaluation of the lives of citizens forcibly detained in camps of shame,” calling on the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council to launch an urgent, independent, transparent international investigation to uncover those responsible for the killing of innocent Sahrawi civilians—whose only crime was being forcibly detained in camps where basic human dignity is denied and systematically prevented from returning to their homeland.

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