European Member of Parliament (MP) Thierry Mariani criticized on Tuesday the decision to invite representatives of the Polisario Front to a meeting of the Maghreb Monitoring Group under the International Trade Commission.
In his remarks during a parliamentary session, He described the move as a “violation” of parliamentary dignity and a threat to relations with Morocco, a key European Union partner.
“Article 10 of our internal regulations stipulates that Members of Parliament must preserve the dignity of the Parliament and not damage its reputation,” Mariani stated, in a video posted on X. “Therefore, I denounce the invitation of representatives from the Polisario Front,” he added.
📣Inviter le Front Polisario,milice soutenue par l’Algérie et liée à des détournements d’aide humanitaire,porte atteinte à la dignité du Parlement.
La réunion initiée par l’extrême-gauche nuit à nos relations avec le Maroc et discrédite notre institution.Elle doit être annulée ! pic.twitter.com/4IqyY70PPm
— Thierry MARIANI (@ThierryMARIANI) January 21, 2025
Mariani pointed out Polisario’s attempts to destabilize the region. He also called out Algeria for allegedly supporting the group to undermine Morocco.
“This militia is supported by Algeria to destabilize Morocco, an important partner for the European Union,” he said.
The European MP also highlighted serious concerns about the group’s alleged activities. “Their ties with Islamists, the barbaric attacks on the population of Es-Smara in 2023, and the cases of misappropriation of humanitarian aid in the Tindouf camp should alarm us,” Mariani warned.
He further referenced a 2018 European Parliament (EP) resolution that addressed the adverse impacts on local populations due to the failure to apply tariff preferences in the Moroccan Sahara. He argued that the current invitation undermines past efforts and damages the Parliament’s reputation.
“This invitation therefore harms the reputation of our Parliament, the populations of the Moroccan Sahara, and jeopardizes our cooperation with Morocco,” Mariani lamented.
Mariani called on the President of the EP to take immediate action. “This is why, Madam President, in accordance with our regulations, I ask you to cancel this intervention,” he demanded.
Violations in Tindouf Camps
Mariani’s comments echo broader concerns over the Polisario Front’s activities, particularly in the Tindouf camps located in Algeria. These camps, home to many Sahrawi refugees, are often described as detention centers rather than humanitarian facilities.
Allegations of widespread human rights abuses in the camps, including forced enlistment, sexual exploitation, and the diversion of aid, have been documented by various observers.
The Polisario Front’s troubled history includes involvement in recruiting fighters for terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The Tindouf camps, with their vulnerable population, have become a target for extremist groups seeking to recruit disillusioned youth.
Michael Braun, former director of operations for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), warned that “the Tindouf camps represent a potential gold mine for recruiters from groups like AQIM.” Investigations have revealed that some members of the Polisario Front have turned to terrorism after engaging in illicit activities.
Reports from counterterrorism agencies have pointed to the group’s connection with terrorist organizations like Al-Mourabitoune and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which have recruited former Polisario fighters.
“The Polisario has been a privileged target for AQIM, despite ideological and political divergence,” explained Yonah Alexander, Director of the International Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies. “This rapprochement is a logical result of the radicalization of the Polisario.”
In 2010, for instance, Mahjoub Mohamed Sidi, a member of the Polisario, was arrested with a large quantity of explosives, confirming links between the separatist group and AQIM. More recently, former Polisario members have played key roles in terrorist organizations.