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The Polisario is marking, this Wednesday, May 20, with great discretion, the 53rd anniversary of the launch of its armed struggle. The traditional military parade held in the «liberated territories», in Tifariti or Bir Lahlou, has not been possible since November 13, 2020.
Worse still, no festivities were organized this year to mark the occasion, whereas in 2024, the Front held military parades in the Tindouf camps on Algerian territory. Brahim Ghali was present but did not speak, leaving that «privilege» to the secretary-general of the «Ministry of Defense».
This year, the commemoration went almost unnoticed, apart from a few articles published by Sahrawi media and then picked up by the Algerian press.
The Polisario’s low profile comes two weeks after projectiles were fired on May 5 at civilian targets in Smara by armed Polisario elements. The attack was condemned, notably by the United States.
In the past, the Polisario used the occasion to stage major military parades attended by foreign delegations from Africa, Europe and South America. Brahim Ghali would use the platform to send messages to France, Spain and the European Union, while renewing his thanks to Algeria and South Africa. His address on May 20, 2024, is a case in point.
As a reminder, the Polisario also did not commemorate the 53rd anniversary of its founding, on May 10, 1973.
