A Sahrawi family from the Tindouf camps in Algeria accused the Algerian army of killing their son, Saïd Ali Chaâbane, and stealing his organs after a violent encounter on March 12, 2023, according to a video shared by Forsatin Forum on Monday.
The family called for international intervention to address human rights abuses in the camps, which are administered by the Polisario Front under Algerian control.
Chaâbane, a young man from the Rguibat Oulad Daoud tribe, left the Tindouf camps with friends to escape harsh conditions, but their journey ended when Algerian soldiers opened fire on their stopped vehicle, critically injuring Saïd.
He was transported to a hospital in Tindouf, where his condition deteriorated. The family was notified of his death and told they could collect his body later that day. Upon retrieving his remains, they made a horrifying discovery: all of Saïd’s internal organs had been removed, leaving his body empty.
His sister described the moment as devastating, accusing the Algerian army of treating her brother as a disposable commodity. “The Algerian army didn’t just kill him—they stole his humanity,” she said. She condemned the conditions in the camps that forced many young Sahrawis to flee, often facing violence or death at the hands of Algerian authorities.
The Tindouf camps, long controlled by the Polisario Front with significant Algerian backing, are often described by human rights organizations as open prisons. Residents face extreme poverty, lack of opportunities, and severe movement restrictions.
Attempts to leave the camps are often met with excessive force. Activists and advocacy groups have reported numerous incidents of violence, including shootings of young men searching for gold, civilians being burned alive in their vehicles, and others killed by drone strikes.
Talbi Ghazi, a journalist and human rights advocate, tweeted that this case highlights the impunity with which the Algerian military operates in the region. “The murder and organ theft of Saïd Ali Chaâbane is a chilling reminder of the lawlessness and inhumanity in the Tindouf camps,” he stated.
He called on international organizations, including the United Nations, to launch an independent investigation and hold those responsible accountable.