The reign of terror in Tindouf
- Enforced disappearances: The emblematic case of Ahmed Khalil
- Arbitrary arrests: Repression as the norm
- Tribalism and Slavery: The Hidden Face of Tindouf
- Algeria's complicity: a deafening silence
- A call to conscience
Enforced disappearances: The emblematic case of Ahmed Khalil
The Tindouf camps, supposedly created as a temporary refuge for the Sahrawi population, have become a lawless territory where repression, arbitrariness and the flagrant violation of the most basic human rights prevail. The Polisario Front, with the tacit backing of Algeria, has established a regime of terror that silences any dissident voice.
One of the most emblematic and disturbing cases, which we have denounced on more than one occasion, is that of Ahmed Khalil, paradoxically a former human rights adviser to the Polisario Front itself, among other posts. Khalil mysteriously disappeared in January 2009 in Algiers, where he was due to attend a conference. Ten years later, his case has resurfaced without any explanation from either the Polisario or the Algerian authorities as to his fate. What is most alarming is that Khalil was precisely in charge of monitoring human rights violations in the Tindouf camps, which made him a threat to the separatist Front. His disappearance is not an isolated case, but the tip of the iceberg of a systematic practice to eliminate opponents and critics of the regime.
Arbitrary arrests: Repression as the norm
The case of Fadel Breika is a perfect illustration of the Polisario's modus operandi. This Sahrawi activist, victim of arbitrary arrests and torture in 2019, had to go into exile in order to denounce the atrocities committed in the camps before the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
His testimony is the cry for help from a population subjected to a regime of constant oppression when they decide to dissent and question the official Polisario discourse. Another glaring example is that of Salem Maalainine Souid, a social media activist, who was brutally repressed and arbitrarily arrested in April 2023 for denouncing the misappropriation of humanitarian aid by the Polisario leadership. His case shows that any attempt to expose corruption and abuses is punished with extreme violence.
Tribalism and Slavery: The Hidden Face of Tindouf
Beyond the political repression, the Tindouf camps hide an even more sinister reality: the persistence of practices of racism, tribalism and slavery. These archaic and abhorrent practices exacerbate social inequalities and tensions between the different Sahrawi communities.
Discrimination against the black population, particularly the Harathin community of slave descent, is a daily practice in the camps. This population suffers systematic marginalisation and exploitation reminiscent of the darkest eras of human history. The case of Mouloud Labeid, a young Sahrawi from this ethnic group who was reduced to servitude by an influential family in the camp, is a chilling example of this reality that persists into the 21st century.
The power system in the camps is structured on the basis of fierce tribalism, with certain dominant tribes monopolising resources and privileges. This dynamic not only accentuates internal divisions, but also perpetuates a system of oppression where the most vulnerable are systematically marginalised and exploited.
Once again, we are witnessing the failure of the so-called egalitarian society advocated by the Polisario since its origins, to the detriment of tribal inequalities and the perennial favourable treatment of the Polisario Front's leaders.
Algeria's complicity: a deafening silence
It is impossible to talk about human rights violations in Tindouf without pointing to Algeria's direct responsibility. By delegating administrative and security responsibilities to the Polisario Front, in that sort of pseudo-puppet state called SADR (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic), Algeria has created a legal vacuum that fosters impunity. Its refusal to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) is further proof of its complicity in these crimes.
In the face of this intolerable situation, numerous international NGOs have raised their voices during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council and the 27th session of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances. Organisations such as Human Rights Defenders, Africa Watch and The Independent Commission of Human Rights in Africa have urged the international community to take concrete measures to put an end to these systematic violations.
It is imperative that greater international monitoring be established in the Tindouf refugee camps. The international community must demand that Algeria assume its responsibilities and put an end to the impunity that reigns in these territories. Independent investigations into cases of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and slavery practices must be carried out in order to punish these rights violations in a place as opaque as Tindouf.
A call to conscience
We should not forget how the Polisario's satellites abroad (politicians, media and social agents) keep silent and look the other way even though they know that this repression exists. This selective and biased stance, feverishly denouncing alleged human rights violations in Morocco, but conveniently ignoring the atrocities committed by the Polisario in Tindouf, reveals a double standard that undermines their credibility.
The situation in the Tindouf camps is a stain on the conscience of the international community. We can no longer close our eyes to the suffering of thousands of people subjected to a regime of terror and oppression. It is time for the world to recognise the true nature of the Polisario Front and its accomplice, Algeria, and take decisive action to put an end to these atrocities.
Silence and inaction only perpetuate the suffering. It is our moral duty to speak out for the silenced, to demand justice for the victims and their families, and to work to make human rights a reality for all, even in the most forgotten corners of the world like Tindouf. Only in this way can we aspire to a truly just and humane world.