Quito Declaration condemns Algeria for human rights abuses in Tindouf camps

A recent international human rights gathering in Quito has issued a strong condemnation of Algeria, accusing it of serious and ongoing human rights violations in the Tindouf refugee camps located on Algerian territory.

The event, organized by the Human Rights Without Borders Foundation (DHSF), brought together activists, union leaders, and civil society organizations from across Latin America and other regions.

The final statement from the meeting, dubbed the “Quito Declaration,” was based on findings presented by the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADEDH), which documented worsening conditions in the camps administered by the Polisario Front.

One of the report’s most alarming revelations was the alleged killing of at least 12 unarmed Sahrawi civilians over the past year by Algerian soldiers.

The report also pointed to rising insecurity fueled by clashes among armed groups involved in trafficking weapons and drugs. Several of these groups are believed to have ties to current or former Polisario members.

The declaration expressed grave concern over forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and increasing restrictions on freedom of movement, especially among women.

One case highlighted was that of a young woman named Safia, who reportedly fled to Algiers to avoid arrest after being labeled “wanted” by Polisario authorities.

The report also raised alarm over the alleged recruitment of Sahrawi youth by extremist networks operating in Mali and Niger, as well as the systemic diversion of humanitarian aid.

According to the declaration, aid meant for refugees is being resold in regional black markets, with the involvement of Polisario officials and elements within the Algerian military.

A key recommendation of the Quito Declaration was a renewed call for the United Nations to conduct a formal census of the Tindouf camp population, a process that has been blocked for years by both Algeria and the Polisario, according to the document.

Without accurate population data, many camp residents remain stateless and unprotected under international law.

Among the signatories of the declaration were high-profile figures including Ecuadorian labor union leader Edgar Sarango, DHSF president Juan Carlos Moragas Duque, and Younes Khaya, Morocco’s Director of Energy Transition in Laayoune.

Ramadan Massoud, president of ASADEDH, said the Quito gathering marked a turning point in international awareness.

“This meeting was critical to exposing the grave human rights violations taking place under Algeria’s responsibility,” Massoud said.

He also highlighted Morocco’s development efforts in its southern provinces, particularly in renewable energy and infrastructure, as a contrasting model.

The Quito Declaration concluded by urging international human rights bodies and civil society actors to take immediate steps to ensure the protection and dignity of the Sahrawi population in Tindouf.

It called for an end to what it described as the “forced captivity” of the camps’ residents and demanded guarantees for their freedom of movement, access to humanitarian aid, and legal rights under international protection frameworks.