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Hezbollah visit to Tindouf stirs new fears over Iranian influence in North Africa
A recent visit by a Hezbollah-linked delegation to the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps in southern Algeria has reignited concerns about Iran’s growing interference in North Africa. Analysts argue that the visit underscores Tehran’s deepening ties with the separatist Polisario Front, raising alarms about regional stability.
Algerian journalist and analyst Oualid Kebir described the visit as a significant political signal, despite Polisario’s claims that it was of a “religious and academic” nature. “The identities of the participants reveal that it is part of a religious-political network operating within the orbit of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran,” Kebir said. He accused Iran of exploiting Polisario as a tool for its regional agenda, similar to its use of the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and various loyalist groups in Iraq and Syria.
Morocco-Iran tensions and Algeria’s role
Morocco severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2018, accusing Tehran of arming the Polisario Front through Hezbollah. Rabat provided intelligence reports linking the separatist group to Iranian-backed military operations, including allegations of drone training and equipping. Morocco’s ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, has emphasized that Polisario and Iran’s collaboration poses a direct threat to regional security, drawing parallels with destabilizing activities in Yemen and Syria.
While both Algeria and Iran deny these allegations, Morocco insists that its evidence is credible and well-documented. Rabat has also criticized Algeria for hosting and financing the Polisario Front for decades, using the group as a proxy to challenge Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara.
Kebir highlighted what he called the “duality” in Algeria’s foreign policy. He pointed to Algeria’s recent vote at the UN Security Council condemning the Houthis while simultaneously hosting figures linked to Hezbollah and Iran. “This contradiction exposes Algeria’s willingness to open the region’s doors to Iranian-linked networks in support of its strategy to back Polisario and undermine regional stability,” Kebir argued.
Broader implications of Iranian involvement
The visit has drawn attention to Iran’s broader strategy of using proxy groups to extend its influence. A report by The Washington Post earlier this year detailed collaborations between Algiers and Hezbollah, suggesting that Iran is using the Polisario Front not only to challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity but also to interfere in other conflicts, such as Syria. The report cited sources confirming that Hezbollah has trained Polisario fighters, with some reportedly involved in Syrian operations.
Iran has previously signaled its willingness to restore ties with Morocco, but Rabat remains cautious, citing Tehran’s continued interference in its domestic affairs. For analysts like Kebir, the Tindouf visit serves as further evidence of Iran’s ambitions to expand its influence through proxy networks, with Polisario becoming a new tool in its strategy.
Regional instability at stake
The growing links between Polisario, Hezbollah, and Iran present a serious challenge to regional security, deepening tensions between Morocco and Algeria. As Morocco continues to denounce Iran’s interference, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the destabilizing role of Iranian proxies in North Africa and beyond.
