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Seeking Algeria’s help, the Polisario tries to end tensions in the camps

Earlier this month, the Polisario sought the help of an Algerian general to end tensions between two influential tribes in the Tindouf camps. On Tuesday, Brahim Ghali announced that he appointed two «officials» from the Teknas tribe.

Polisario leader Brahim Ghali./Ph. DR
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As reported by Yabiladi on February the 5th, the Polisario leadership, which is mainly controlled by «officials» from the Rguibates tribe, approached the other Sahrawi groups in the Tindouf camps.

On Tuesday, February the 19th, Polisario’s leader Brahim Ghali appointed two individuals from the camps as senior «officials» inside the Front’s leadership.

«Some positions have been awarded to members from the Tekna tribe. This decision was made in order to contain the anger of the Front’s 'Prime Minister' Mohamed El Ouali Akeik, a Sahrawi from the Zarguiyine tribe», a well-informed source who requested anonymity told Yabiladi.  

Algeria’s help

Ghali has also tried to calm young people down in the camps by appointing Moussa Salmi as «head of organizations and NGOs». The latter visited Morocco, including Laayoune and Rabat, in 2015 as part of a youth delegation from the Socialist International party.

This young Sahrawi will be charged of approaching associations and political parties in the Kingdom of Morocco. This mission will put him in direct contact with Bashir Mustapha Sayed, the Front’s «Minister of Occupied Territories», who deals with pro-Polisario parties in the Sahara.

But twenty-four hours after the list of the new leaders was revealed, tensions sparked in the camps. Some parties accused Brahim Ghali of violating the law of the Front, arguing that Sahrawis joining the Polisario’s leadership must first be members of the movement.

These appointments were announced after the headquarters of the Polisario’s «mission» in Algiers hosted an extraordinary activity earlier in Feburary. «Three senior officials from the Polisario Front, namely Khatri Addouh, Mohamed El Ouali Akeik and Bashir Mustapha Sayed, visited the facility», a well-informed source told Yabiladi.

The meeting held in Algiers was scheduled to end tension between the Rguibates and Teknas tribes.

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