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Dakhla — Tensions are escalating in and around the Tindouf camps in southern Algeria as new reports reveal a sharp rise in insecurity.
Reports emerged this week of a recent armed attack targeting Chinese workers, exposing the fragile situation in the region, where Algeria continues to shelter and back the Polisario Front.
In a Facebook post, the Forum for Supporters of Autonomy in the Tindouf Camps (FORSATIN) reported a criminal gang assault against workers from the Chinese company CRCC.
The company is overseeing an Algerian-sponsored railway construction project.
According to the statement, the attack took place along the rail line linking Tindouf and Gara Djebilet, specifically between the Dakhla and Rabouni camps, areas long controlled by Polisario elements.
FORSATIN said the armed group seized a black Toyota Hilux belonging to the company on Monday afternoon.
Witnesses later spotted the vehicle heading toward the Smara camp, where it entered freely despite several military and security checkpoints.
The incident has reportedly angered Algerian officials and deepened mistrust between the Algerian regime and the Polisario leadership.
Sources told the forum that authorities in Algiers are attempting to suppress information about the attack to avoid public outrage and prevent further criticism of the Polisario’s role in the region.
The attack also reignites fears about past kidnappings and violence near the camps, where terrorist groups and criminal networks have been known to operate.
Observers have long warned of links between Polisario officials and illicit activities, including smuggling and armed assaults, posing serious risks for foreign workers in the area.
Security experts argue that the incident highlights a broader problem — Algeria’s loss of real control over Tindouf, a territory effectively managed by the Polisario.
Algerian citizens reportedly need authorization from Polisario members to enter the zone, a situation that raises concerns about Algeria’s sovereignty and the safety of both locals and foreigners.
Several Algerian opposition figures have previously condemned their government’s decision to hand over authority in Tindouf to the separatist group.
They accuse the Algerian regime of sacrificing national interests to sustain the Polisario’s agenda under the pretext of “supporting the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.”
As insecurity grows around the Tindouf camps, analysts say Algeria’s long-standing support for the separatist movement is backfiring — creating instability not only within its borders but across the entire Sahel and Maghreb region.
