Rights groups sound alarm over alleged exploitation of Sahrawi children in Polisario’s 'holidays for peace' program

The controversial “Holidays for Peace” program, overseen by the Polisario Front and supported by sympathetic European organizations, is under fire from Moroccan and Sahrawi rights activists who accuse the initiative of using Sahrawi children for political propaganda, cultural assimilation, and even sexual exploitation.

Dozens of children from Sahrawi families in the Tindouf camps in Algeria have been sent to countries including Spain, Italy, and the UK as part of this summer program, which claims to offer rest and medical care.

However, growing concerns are being raised over the ethical, legal, and humanitarian implications of the initiative.

A Spanish intelligence report released by the country’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) revealed alarming connections between former child participants in the “Holidays for Peace” program and terrorist groups operating in the Sahel.

The report suggests that some individuals, now involved in extremist networks, took part in the program in the past, helping them gain language skills and familiarity with European society, potentially facilitating recruitment or future operations.

Propaganda and Profit

Abdelouahab Kayn, head of the African Organization for Human Rights Monitoring, described the program as a long-running political tool disguised as humanitarian aid. He traced its origins to 1979, inspired by Spanish poet Marcos Ana, who adapted a Franco-era program that had originally offered children of political prisoners vacations abroad.

“Over time, the initiative transformed into a tool for Polisario’s political propaganda,” Kayn said, “aimed at influencing public opinion in Spain and other European nations.”

Kayn argued that the program’s humanitarian appearance masks a deeper agenda: “It serves to vilify Morocco and push for international sympathy toward the separatist movement under the guise of child welfare.”

He also alleged that the initiative has become a lucrative enterprise for senior Polisario leaders, involving embezzlement, adoption schemes, and illicit gains through the rerouting of international aid. “These children are often showcased as victims to bolster narratives of suffering, while key figures in Polisario and affiliated NGOs enrich themselves,” Kayn added.

Coercion and Identity Erosion

Mina Laghzal, coordinator of the Sahrawi NGO Coalition, accused Polisario and Algerian authorities of systematic violations against children’s rights. “The forced displacement of Sahrawi children began long before this program,” she said, pointing to the 1975 mass relocation of children and the 1976 temporary deportations to Europe orchestrated by Algerian authorities.

“These children are denied legal status, left under the control of a military organization that ignores their basic interests,” Laghzal added. She also accused the organizers of failing to protect children from dangerous environments abroad, where there have been reports of abuse, including cases of sexual violence, religious proselytization, and psychological trauma.

The coalition’s research found that children, often between the ages of 10 and 13, are separated from their families with no option for accompaniment or follow-up, raising fears of identity loss and cultural dislocation. “This is not simply a vacation program. It’s a covert means to manipulate young minds during their formative years,” said Laghzal.

The NGOs also denounced what they see as a fraudulent system of humanitarian aid extraction, involving forged documentation, false medical promises, and complicity by European host families and local authorities.

Laghzal said the coalition has documented multiple tragic cases, including unexplained drownings, revenge killings, and confirmed incidents of sexual abuse involving children enrolled in the program. “Despite the humanitarian mask, the project remains a tool of psychological and political manipulation, and a blatant violation of children’s rights.”

She concluded by warning that the program is part of a broader strategy by the Polisario and Algerian backers to weaponize child narratives in diplomatic battles, particularly in Spain, where the Sahara issue remains politically sensitive.

Call for Oversight

Rights advocates are urging international organizations and host country governments to investigate the true nature of the “Holidays for Peace” program and establish clear guidelines to prevent exploitation. They also called on the United Nations and child welfare bodies to ensure that any relocation of children is conducted transparently, with full parental consent and legal protections.

“These children should not be pawns in political games,” Kayn said. “Their well-being must come before propaganda.”