Polisario's dangerous shift: Leaders confirm escalation toward Terrorism

The Polisario Front, under the leadership of Bachir Mustapha Sayed, has taken a perilous turn, openly advocating for terrorist attacks within Moroccan territory, different international media reported.

According to international media, this dire call to terrorist activities was captured in a speech by Sayed on April 28, 2024, in Tindouf, where he disturbingly promoted the use of explosives to instill terror in urban areas such as Smara, Dakhla, and Laayoune. He unabashedly suggests that "If you want explosives, God bless, they are available," and directs his followers to detonate bombs nightly inside Morocco to spread fear and chaos.

Historically, the Polisario has been promoted by neighboring countries’ communist regimes as a liberation group. Efforts to portray a peaceful disposition are starkly contradicted by evidence on the ground and by Sayed's extremist rhetoric, indicating an alarming shift in strategy driven by desperation and the challenges posed by the international dynamics of the Sahara issue largely in favor of Moroccan position. This approach of the group not only raises concerns about regional security but also brings to light the group's troubling practices, including the recruitment of child soldiers and misappropriation of humanitarian aid.

Furthermore, international legitimacy eludes the Polisario, as it lacks recognition from significant entities like the United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League and failure to provide prospects for the population of the Tindouf Camps in Algeria undermines their claims to legitimacy as a representative of these population. Inside the Tindouf Camps the armed Melicia is largely contested by the refugees. The Polisarios declining legitimacy is evident, in dissidents arising to oppose their approaches and oppression.

The implications of the Polisario's escalated violence extend beyond regional instability. The Sahel region, already grappling with the presence of various terrorist groups, could see worsening security conditions, providing a fertile environment for extremist ideologies to proliferate.

European Union and the global community must take serious note of these developments. A robust investigation into the Polisario's connections with terrorist organizations and their weapons arsenal is crucial. Overlooking these threats could jeopardize not just the Sahara and the Sahel but also broader European and international stability.

These developments recall, the Polisario's recent attacks targeting civilians in the Moroccan City of Smara that underline the groups terrorist-based tactics. These acts, coupled with affiliations with radical groups like the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, demand a decisive response to curtail further humanitarian crises and protect the vulnerable population in the Tindouf camps, where the Polisario's control has led to significant human rights abuses.

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