Algeria and separatist discourse: influence and narratives in Spanish public opinion

This campaign, sustained by communication channels and politically aligned networks, is articulated through persistent messages that seek to shape European perceptions by appealing to principles such as the right to self-determination.

The phenomenon is not simply a response to ideological confrontation, but rather a sophisticated tactic to project regional influence. Algeria, through certain media platforms, solidarity associations and think tanks with a presence in Spain, channels a discourse that, under a humanitarian guise, conceals specific geostrategic objectives. In many cases, respected voices within progressive Spanish journalism have echoed, perhaps without full awareness, arguments that coincide with the interests of the Algerian political-military apparatus.

The shift in the Spanish government's official position, backing Morocco's proposal for autonomy as a realistic solution to the conflict, has marked a break with years of diplomatic ambiguity. This change has generated a visible reaction in Algeria, which has intensified its symbolic and narrative presence in the Iberian media space. Through opinion pieces, forums and social media, attempts are being made to revitalise the separatist cause, erroneously equating it with other ongoing liberation struggles, such as the Palestinian case.

Far from representing a viable alternative today, the Polisario Front faces growing questions about its representativeness, transparency and legitimacy. Various journalistic investigations and NGO reports have highlighted the restrictive conditions in the Tindouf camps in Algeria and the absence of effective international supervision. Despite this, certain groups continue to grant it an almost mythical status, evoking the romanticism of the anti-imperialist struggles of the 20th century.

In this context, Algeria exploits the European progressive imagination to reaffirm its external influence and, at the same time, manage its own internal crises. The rhetoric about the ‘external enemy’ serves to justify military control over Algerian political life and reinforce a national identity around the conflict with Morocco. This logic is reminiscent of Cold War paradigms, where internal cohesion was built on the basis of external antagonisms.

In certain discourses, there is a tendency to draw parallels between the Sahara conflict and other contemporary tragedies, such as the violence in Gaza, without taking into account the fundamental differences between the two scenarios. This emotional approach, although well-intentioned, can lead to simplistic interpretations that can be manipulated by interested parties.

It is revealing how Algeria, which presents itself as a defender of oppressed peoples, faces criticism for its lack of pluralism, repression of the independent press and restrictions on civil society within its own territory. From this perspective, unconditional support for the Polisario Front cannot be sustained as a universal ethical cause, but rather as an extension of a regional strategy whose objective is not the emancipation of the Sahrawi people, but the containment of Moroccan development and stability.

The autonomy proposal put forward by Morocco, backed by multiple countries and international organisations, represents a middle ground that seeks to reconcile respect for sovereignty with the recognition of cultural and political rights. Faced with this proposal, the Algerian regime's outright rejection seems to respond more to a logic of obstruction than to a real desire for a solution.

Understanding the Algerian discourse as an expression of a systemic crisis rather than a defence of universal principles allows Spanish readers to approach a narrative that has found resonance in certain ideological circles with a more critical eye. In the long term, the truth tends to prevail where there are mechanisms for pluralism and freedom of the press.

The debate on Western Sahara in Spain deserves a calm and well-documented review that goes beyond inherited clichés and automatic ideological loyalties. Only then will it be possible to build a fairer, more informed vision that is in line with the current challenges facing the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Abdelhay Korret, Moroccan journalist and writer