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Join on Telegram Doha – In a move that further tightens control over Sahrawis held in the Tindouf camps, Algerian authorities have banned residents from purchasing mobile phone lines from the state-owned operator Mobilis using identification cards issued by the separatist Polisario Front, the Forum for the Autonomists of Tindouf (FORSATIN) reported on December 26.
The restriction, which took immediate effect, marks another chapter in the ongoing isolation of camp residents. Mobilis officials attributed the decision to technical updates requiring NFC-enabled identification cards, which the current documents lack.
The telecommunications company, which serves over 18 million subscribers, has faced criticism for this decision that affects thousands of Sahrawis residing in the camps.
Critics argue that access to mobile communications represents a fundamental right that should be guaranteed regardless of political circumstances.
According to FORSATIN, sources close to Polisario leadership revealed that the decision extends beyond technical constraints, serving as a deliberate measure to isolate camp residents from the outside world, particularly from their relatives in Morocco’s southern provinces.
The forum reported that Algerian authorities and Polisario have observed changing attitudes among camp residents, noting decreased respect for both the Polisario system and the Algerian regime that backs it.
Official reports attribute this shift to modern communications technology, which has enabled camp residents to witness the stark contrast between their living conditions and those of Sahrawis in Morocco’s southern provinces.
FORSATIN detailed how camp residents have discovered through instant messaging platforms that Sahrawi families in Morocco enjoy a high standard of living, with well-equipped homes, quality furnishings, and advanced infrastructure including roads, public facilities, restaurants, cafes, recreational spaces, and communication networks.
This contrasts sharply with the camps’ conditions, where basic infrastructure and essential facilities, including toilets, are notably absent.
These revelations have sparked successive protests, with residents accusing Algeria of holding thousands of Sahrawis hostage to a “failed project” with no foreseeable end, the forum reported.
This latest restriction adds to a pattern of human rights violations in the camps, even leading to deadly violence against civilians. Just last November, the Algerian army killed four gold miners – both Mauritanians and Sahrawis – in the remote area of “Al-Kouizi.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently expressed his concern over the humanitarian situation in Tindouf, citing severe food price increases and extreme environmental conditions that have left many Sahrawis malnourished and vulnerable.
The camps have been plagued by systematic aid embezzlement. A recent investigation by Futuro Sahara uncovered details of fuel diversion by Polisario leadership, while a 2015 European Anti-Fraud Office report exposed the misappropriation of humanitarian aid between 2003 and 2007, with supplies being sold in Mauritanian and sub-Saharan markets to fund the purchase of weaponry.
Human rights organizations have intensified calls for action. During the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, NGOs urged the international community to pressure Algeria to fulfill its responsibilities as the host country and protect the rights of camp residents.
The actual number of camp residents remains unknown due to Algeria’s consistent refusal to permit a UN-led census. While estimates suggest around 90,000 refugees, former Polisario members indicate that only about 20% are Sahrawis, with the remainder comprising various tribal groups, including Algerians.
Read also: Algerian Analyst: Algeria’s Regime Treat Sahrawis in Tindouf as Non-Human
