The declaration made by the Polisario, classifying the “Dakhla wilaya” in the Tindouf camps as a disaster zone following recent rains and floods, indeed raises many questions about the nature of Algerian sovereignty over its own territory.
This move reflects a clear failure in Algeria’s management of the humanitarian crisis within the camps, especially since the Polisario, a non-governmental separatist organization hosted by Algeria, makes significant decisions without direct intervention or guidance from the Algerian state.
From the perspective of sovereignty, how can a state that claims control over its territory allow such a movement to issue distress calls to the international community without direct oversight or intervention by Algerian authorities? This points to a clear flaw in sovereign practice and raises questions about Algeria’s ability to manage humanitarian crises within its borders.
There is also a political dimension to these calls, as the Polisario may seek to present itself as an independent entity on the international stage in an attempt to strengthen its position in the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
However, this step might also reflect Algerian reluctance to take responsibility for managing the camps, which could be used as a tool in the ongoing political conflict between Morocco and Algeria over the Sahara issue.
It is worth noting that Algeria, which has supported the Polisario for decades and provides it with logistical and material support, may appear contradictory in this context, allowing the Polisario to act as if it were an independent entity, raising further doubts about Algeria’s real role in this conflict.
In conclusion, these events raise significant questions about the humanitarian and political responsibility in Tindouf and Algeria’s ability to maintain actual sovereignty over the areas where it hosts separatist organizations like the Polisario.
