Algeria's responsibility for human rights violations in Tindouf

Friday 21 March 2025 - 12:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Algeria's responsibility for human rights violations in Tindouf

A Sahrawi human rights defender urged the international community on Thursday in Geneva to hold Algeria accountable for the human rights violations occurring in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) and to end the impunity enjoyed by Polisario leaders. "We call on the international community to hold Algeria responsible for its obligations as the host country. Impunity must no longer be granted to Polisario leaders for these crimes," stated El Filali Hammadi, Secretary-General of the North African Independent Human Rights Commission (CIDH AfNord), during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council.

Algeria has entrusted the control of the Tindouf camps to the Polisario, which operates with minimal oversight. This situation has created a legal and administrative vacuum, exposing the detained populations to severe abuses, ranging from arbitrary detentions to extrajudicial executions. Mr. El Filali emphasized this point during the general debate's fourth agenda item, noting that Algeria has repeatedly failed to respond to urgent communications from special rapporteurs. He recalled an incident in October 2020, where Algerian soldiers reportedly burned two Sahrawi prospectors alive in a well.

The activist referenced the 2024 report from the World Food Programme concerning the Tindouf camps, which indicated that "nearly 90% of Sahrawi refugees are either vulnerable to food insecurity or facing food insecurity." He also highlighted reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch detailing issues like mismanagement and diversion of humanitarian aid. Despite this, he lamented that Algeria has not fulfilled its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which is intended to protect the rights of refugees.

The lack of adequate supervision and accountability from both Algeria and the Polisario has led to ongoing suffering and human rights violations, he underscored.