U.S. Senate: Ted Cruz Revives Explosive Debate Over Polisario Terrorism Allegations and Points to Algeria
Debate surrounding the alleged actions of the Polisario militias reached a new level in Washington after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz renewed accusations against the movement during a hearing focused on counterterrorism in Africa. The Texas lawmaker described the group as a growing threat to regional stability and suggested that Algeria’s military-backed authorities play a role in sustaining that danger.
In a forceful intervention, Cruz argued that the Polisario can no longer be viewed solely as a separatist actor. According to him, the movement has evolved into an operational proxy serving broader foreign influence strategies, particularly those linked to Iran in the Sahel-Saharan region.
The senator also referred to suspicions involving transfers of weapons, drones and logistical support that could strengthen the group’s destabilizing capacity. He compared the situation to patterns previously seen in the Middle East, warning that some actors may be attempting to replicate similar strategies in Africa.
At the center of the criticism was Algeria, which several voices in Washington accuse of providing political and logistical backing to the Polisario, thereby helping preserve a permanent zone of tension near the Sahel. According to these assessments, such a situation fuels insecurity, trafficking networks and possible links with extremist groups.
Cruz further recalled his legislative initiative calling for an official review of whether the Polisario should be designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. If such a move were adopted, it could mark a major shift in how the issue is handled internationally.
Officials from the U.S. State Department have also acknowledged close monitoring of developments in the Sahel-Saharan space, recognizing the region as highly vulnerable to overlapping security threats, foreign interference and chronic instability.
Beyond the statements themselves, the latest developments reflect a notable shift in Washington’s perspective on the conflict. What was once approached primarily through diplomacy is increasingly being viewed through a security lens, with potentially serious implications for regional balances.
In this tense atmosphere, the accusations against the Polisario and its supporters have reignited a sensitive debate over the responsibility of both state and non-state actors in destabilizing an already fragile region, and over how the international community should respond.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
