Algeria's double standard: supporting separatism abroad while silencing dissent at home

Algeria’s military regime is orchestrating a calculated geopolitical strategy in North Africa, fostering instability in neighboring regions while brutally suppressing dissent within its borders. Under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and military chief Saïd Chengriha, the state champions armed separatist movements such as the Polisario Front, even as it condemns domestic calls for autonomy, such as those from the Movement for the Self-determination of Kabylia (MAK).

A selective approach to self-determination

Algeria’s approach to self-determination is marked by contradictions. The regime labels the Kabyle independence movement, represented by the Government of Kabylia in exile (GPK), as a "terrorist group" without providing evidence of violent activities. Meanwhile, it extends full diplomatic, military, and financial support to the Polisario Front, a separatist movement in Sahara, often linked to regional instability and terrorist networks.

The Kabyle movement, led by Ferhat Mehenni, advocates for a peaceful and democratic struggle, rejecting violence and terrorism. However, Kabylia faces systemic marginalization by the Algerian state, including cultural repression, economic neglect, and identity-based discrimination. In stark contrast, Algeria grants the Polisario refuge in the Tindouf camps, portrays them as a liberation movement, and lobbies for their cause internationally.

Terrorist links and regional destabilization

The Polisario’s connections to terrorist networks, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) and Iran-backed groups, are increasingly well-documented. Intelligence reports reveal their involvement in arms trafficking, kidnappings, and other illicit activities across the Sahel region. This complicates Algeria’s role, as it actively supports an organization accused of undermining regional security.

Despite its significant backing from Algiers, the Polisario faces growing isolation on the international stage. Countries such as the United States, France, and Spain have shifted their positions to support Morocco’s autonomy initiative for Sahara, leaving the Polisario diplomatically weakened.

Escalating tensions in the Tindouf camps

The Tindouf refugee camps, controlled by the Polisario and reliant on Algerian support, are witnessing growing unrest. Protests erupted recently after an incident in which the Algerian army killed two individuals and injured nine others in the Dakhla camp. NGOs condemned the violence, accusing Polisario militias of aiding in the suppression of protesters demanding justice.

This unrest reflects broader dissatisfaction among Sahrawi refugees, who are increasingly rejecting the Polisario’s agenda and calling for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a viable solution. Chants of dissent, once unthinkable, now echo across the camps, signaling a shift in sentiment.

The decline of Algerian-sponsored separatism

The international community is showing a clear preference for Morocco’s territorial integrity over Algeria’s separatist ambitions. The United Kingdom recently aligned with Morocco on the Sahara issue, joining a growing list of nations backing the autonomy initiative. This shift underscores a broader geopolitical trend that prioritizes sovereignty and stability over outdated separatist aspirations.

As the Polisario loses political, military, and diplomatic ground, the possibility of its designation as a terrorist organization by the United States becomes increasingly likely. Such a move would force Algeria to reconsider its support for the group, potentially reshaping the region’s political landscape.

Algeria’s selective use of self-determination as a geopolitical tool reveals the regime’s broader strategy of maintaining regional influence at the expense of peace and stability. However, with international support coalescing around Morocco’s autonomy proposal, the decline of Algerian-sponsored separatism appears inevitable.