Radicalised Sahrawis join al-Qaeda and Daesh in the Sahel

Spanish intelligence services have issued a serious warning about the growing jihadist threat on the Atlantic coast of the Sahel, where radicalised Sahrawi fighters have joined the ranks of Al Qaeda and Daesh. This was revealed in a confidential report by the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), according to La Vanguardia, just one day after Armed Forces Day was celebrated in the Canary Islands. 

The document highlights the evolution of the crisis in the so-called ‘Sahel triangle’ — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — one of the most dangerous regions in the world, where violent wars have been raging for more than a decade between terrorist groups and weakened governments for control of the territory. According to the report, individuals from the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf (Algeria), some of them former beneficiaries of the Spanish humanitarian programme Vacaciones en Paz (Holidays in Peace), have risen through the ranks to occupy leadership positions within jihadist organisations. 

These individuals, who are familiar with the Spanish language and culture due to their childhood in foster homes in Spain, are being closely monitored by intelligence units. ‘A group of jihadists who have had close contact with Spanish families are fluent in Spanish and now hold operational positions at the top of international terrorism,’ said CNI sources quoted by La Vanguardia. The report considers their role as possible instigators of attacks on European soil to be ‘worrying’, given their ability to mobilise lone actors and operate under the radar.

The report mentions two organisations in particular: Jama'at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, which is attempting to expand into the Maghreb with the aim of moving closer to Europe, and Daesh-West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is even more violent and has a growing presence of radicalised Sahrawis in its leadership. 

The threat is not theoretical: during the first days of June, coinciding with the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha, there was a spike in attacks in southern Mali and northern Burkina Faso. In Mali, the figures are chilling: more than 400 soldiers have recently been killed in clashes with jihadist militias.

The document also highlights the rise of Iyad Ag Ghali, already considered the new ‘warlord’ of the Sahel. With an army of more than 6,000 fighters, Ag Ghali is leading the jihadist groups' strategy, which is focused on consolidating total control of rural areas before advancing towards the capitals — Bamako (Mali), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Niamey (Niger) — as happened in their day with Damascus and Kabul. 

Anti-terrorism experts consulted by La Vanguardia warn that the Sahel is at a ‘key’ moment, as a reversal of the situation could pose a serious threat to international security. The Spanish Department of National Security fears that the region could become an uncontrollable sanctuary for terrorism, right on Europe's geographical rear guard. 

This information also highlights once again the harsh living conditions in the Sahrawi refugee camps and the lack of prospects and opportunities for young people. Numerous human rights organisations have denounced for years the neglect, precariousness and frustration that prevail in these camps, located in the middle of the Algerian desert and almost entirely dependent on international humanitarian aid. According to experts, this context of exclusion and despair is an ideal breeding ground for radicalisation. 

This situation, combined with the growing political instability in the Sahel countries—controlled by military juntas unable to contain the jihadist offensive—paints a picture increasingly marked by uncertainty and risk. Furthermore, the direct involvement of radicalised Sahrawis adds a new and particularly worrying dimension to this global conflict.