Calls grow to classify Polisario as a terrorist group amid renewed scrutiny of violent history

Saturday 14 June 2025 - 15:45

By: Dakir Madiha

Calls grow to classify Polisario as a terrorist group amid renewed scrutiny of violent history

Efforts to label the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization are gaining international momentum. Politicians, researchers, and human rights advocates are urging Western governments to confront the separatist group’s violent legacy and its ongoing threat to regional stability in North Africa.

The debate intensified following an opinion piece published on June 10 by Spanish writer Ignacio Ortiz in La Provincia, where he cited multiple documented attacks carried out by the Polisario Front. These include assaults on Spanish workers from Fos Bucraa, Canary Islands fishermen, and civilians from the Basque Country during the 1970s and 1980s.

Ortiz drew extensively from reports by the Canary Association of Victims of Terrorism (ACAVITE), which accuses Polisario of involvement in the deaths of over 300 Spanish citizens. Victims include businessmen, fishermen, and civilians who were tortured, kidnapped, or murdered. Despite Spain’s formal recognition of these victims, its government has yet to hold Polisario’s leadership accountable.

Past attacks linked to Polisario leader

The article highlights former Polisario defense minister and current leader Brahim Ghali’s alleged involvement in several high-profile attacks. These include the 1978 Cruz del Mar incident, where seven Spanish sailors were killed, and the 1980 hijacking of the Mencey de Abona, which ended with the murder of its captain, Domingo Quintana, whose body was found wrapped in a Polisario flag.

Ghali’s 2021 secret entry into Spain under a fake identity to receive medical treatment reignited diplomatic tensions between Rabat and Madrid. It wasn’t until April 2022 that Spain redefined its stance, formally endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible framework to resolve the Sahara conflict.

Growing international political pressure

US Congressman Joe Wilson recently pledged to introduce legislation to designate Polisario as a terrorist organization. He linked the group to Algerian and Russian efforts to destabilize Africa. British MP Liam Fox echoed these concerns, calling Polisario an “Iranian proxy” comparable to Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Hudson Institute and The National Interest have also published analyses denouncing the group’s portrayal as a liberation movement, citing activities involving arms smuggling, ideological indoctrination, and acts of terrorism. Moroccan researcher Ahmed Sahrawi emphasized the shift in global support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal, including the UK’s unprecedented endorsement and growing backing from more than 113 countries.

La Provincia’s article also referenced intelligence reports suggesting that Iran’s proxy Hezbollah has trained Polisario fighters on Algerian soil. European officials reportedly confirmed the presence of Polisario militants in Syria, captured by local security forces after receiving training from Hezbollah operatives.

The report noted threats issued by Polisario figures against countries collaborating with Morocco. Mustafa Sayed, a leading Polisario member, was accused of inciting terrorism against Moroccan interests and promoting violence in Sahara.

A case for terrorist designation

Ortiz argues that the group’s violent history and ongoing operations meet the legal and moral thresholds for terrorist designation. He stressed the responsibility of democratic governments to act based on documented crimes against civilians rather than geopolitical interests.

He concluded by urging the US and its allies to formally recognize the threat posed by Polisario, not just due to its ties to Iran and Hezbollah, but for its long-standing record of violent actions targeting Spanish citizens.