Western Sahara: Polisario Front sends delegation to US
A delegation from the Polisario Front is being sent to the US to discuss issues related to the Western Sahara territorial dispute, as reported by the Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi and agencies on January 18th.
Mouloud Said, the Algerian-backed separatist militia’s representative in Washington, has travelled to Florida, where US President Donald Trump has previously held diplomatic meetings, reportedly to “prepare the ground.”
A source familiar with the situation said the Polisario Front is engaging in targeted lobbying efforts with Republican officials and circles as it awaits the commencement of talks.
The source added that the Algerian Embassy in Washington is supporting Said’s initiative. However, the group’s leadership has not been unanimous in its support, with Bachir Mustapha Sayed criticising the “secrecy” surrounding the mission.
Sayed also condemned the influence that the militia’s leader, Brahim Ghali, had over the delegation’s composition, stating that Ghali “has formed a negotiating team composed of active members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he personally oversees to maintain the confidentiality of its activities and operations.”
This visit comes within days of Washington signalling its intention to prioritise political stability and economic investment in North Africa on January 14th.
This included resolving the long-standing Western Sahara dispute between Morocco and Algeria, which began when Spanish colonial rule ended in 1975.
Similarly, on January 8th, it was reported that the US was pushing Algeria to renew its stance on Moroccan sovereignty, with Trump’s senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, confirming that resolving the Western Sahara dispute was a top priority.
On October 31st, a UN Security Council vote saw Resolution 2797, or the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, receive widespread support as a solution to the 50-year territorial dispute.
Under this plan, the Western Sahara would be granted limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty; Algeria has rejected the proposal and supports the Polisario Front.
The Polisario Front claims to be engaged in an armed struggle against what it perceives as Morocco’s illegal military occupation of the region, allegedly in support of self-determination for the Sahrawi people, whose ancestral homeland is the disputed territory.
Algeria’s seemingly unwavering support for the militia has led to its increased diplomatic isolation, with Morocco pushing for the US to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) in June 2025.
Yabiladi and agencies, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
