Rising Tension in Tindouf Camps Amid Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions
The Tindouf camps, located in the southwest of Algeria, are experiencing rising internal tensions due to worsening social and humanitarian conditions, with increasing despair among the youth and a lack of a clear political horizon after decades of stagnation. This internal tension is growing day by day, exacerbated by worsening economic conditions and strict security measures imposed by the Polisario leadership, which is facing increasing pressure both within the camps and from outside, in light of regional and international developments concerning the Moroccan Sahara issue.
In this context, recent statements made by Ibrahim El-Bachir Billa, the so-called “Interior Minister” of the Polisario Front, have sparked widespread debate. For the first time, he acknowledged, with a tone suggesting a shift from previous hardline positions, the existence of the Moroccan autonomy proposal as part of serious international discussions.
This statement comes at a time when the Tindouf camps are experiencing growing unrest, evident in the rising number of individual and collective protests, as well as increasing divisions, particularly among the youth, who express their rejection of a reality marked by marginalization, strict security surveillance, and deprivation of freedom of movement and decent living conditions. Reports of human rights violations and the lack of transparency in managing international humanitarian aid are also on the rise, as confirmed by several international organizations in recent years.
On the other hand, Morocco’s autonomy proposal is receiving increasing international support, regarded as a practical and realistic solution that ensures the dignity of the populations and their integration into a broad development project encompassing the southern regions. The current momentum surrounding the Moroccan Sahara issue, particularly after the opening of several foreign consulates in Laâyoune and Dakhla, has strengthened Morocco’s diplomatic position, while support for the separatist agenda has clearly diminished.
The current situation in Tindouf highlights the depth of the internal crisis within the Polisario, with calls from within the camps for a reassessment of the way the issue is managed and a move toward a political solution that respects the rights of the populations and ends their prolonged suffering. It seems that the rising tension may lead to greater internal changes, potentially forcing the Polisario leadership to abandon its rigid positions and engage with the proposals within the UN framework, including the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty.
