NGOs demand action on human rights violations in Algeria’s Tindouf camps

A coalition of Sahrawi NGOs has accused the Polisario Front of systematic human rights abuses in the Tindouf refugee camps in southwestern Algeria. The claims were presented in a report submitted to the Global Conference on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva, which convened on Wednesday and Thursday.

The report alleges that thousands of Sahrawis have lived under “a state of lawlessness” since the camps were established in 1975. It highlights the lack of legal protections for camp residents, many of whom remain without formal refugee status.

The coalition—comprising the International Network for Human Rights and Development, the African Organization for Human Rights Monitoring, and Defenders for Human Rights—stated that the Polisario Front operates with complete jurisdictional authority delegated by Algeria. This arrangement, they argue, has persisted for nearly five decades without international oversight.

“Sahrawis in the camps have faced extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and degrading treatment,” the report said. It detailed incidents dating back to the 1980s when hundreds of individuals were allegedly detained and tortured by Polisario security forces. Victims were reportedly accused of espionage and dispersed across networks such as Akleibat Lafoula and Tekna.

The coalition called enforced disappearances a “systematic tool of fear” used by the Polisario to suppress dissent. It noted that such practices continue under the protection of Algerian authorities, despite international calls for accountability.

Algeria, which hosts the Tindouf camps, has faced criticism during its Universal Periodic Review for failing to protect individuals on its soil. The coalition urged Algerian authorities to conduct a census of camp residents and prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances.

The NGOs also called on Algeria to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and collaborate with UN mechanisms to address these violations.

The report emphasized the need for Algeria to end its delegation of authority to the Polisario and take steps to ensure the protection of Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps. “These individuals deserve basic human rights and protection, in line with international standards,” the coalition said.