Sahrawi activists have denounced serious human rights abuses by Polisario against Tindouf camp residents at the UN Human Rights Council.
This plea is part of the 57th session of the Council, which runs from September 23 to October 11, 2024, under Morocco’s presidency.
Hamada El Bihi, president of the Sahara League, urged international vigilance against Polisario mercenaries threatening regional stability and civilian safety.
El Bihi emphasized that conflicts in the region could lead to increased recruitment of youth into arms trafficking and terrorist groups.
NGOs have called on Algeria to uphold its international obligations as the host country, demanding investigations into Polisario’s alleged abuses.
Activists have accused Polisario, with Algeria’s complicity, of using disappearances and other abuses to intimidate Tindouf camp residents.
Gajmoula Boussif of the Sahara Development Observatory noted that Morocco’s role as CDH president highlights its commitment to human rights.
The session includes a general debate on the annual human rights report, reflecting Morocco’s significant role in promoting human rights.
Beside the sahrawi activists, Several NGOs, such as RADHEG and CIRAC, urged the international community to pressure Algeria regarding human rights violations in Tindouf camps.
The NGOs highlighted “worrying” humanitarian conditions in the camps and the “systematic” diversion of aid by Polisario leaders.
They emphasized the Algerian army’s complicity in blocking exits from the camps, leaving the population trapped and suffering.
Testimonies shared during the debate detailed repressive campaigns against young people who expose these abuses on social media.
Reports described instances of kidnapping, arbitrary disappearance, torture, and severe shortages of essential food and supplies in the camps.
The NGOs stressed that some young individuals, desperate for survival, have been forced to join armed groups in the Sahel.
They demanded an end to the abuses and urged investigations into the forced disappearances and other rights violations in Tindouf.