Sahrawi activist kidnapped after exposing fuel smuggling

A Sahrawi activist and spokesman for the youth protesting against aid smuggling, Salem Maelaynayne Souaid, has been kidnapped in mysterious circumstances by Polisario forces, after he exposed the group for fuel smuggling.

According to the the Forum for the Support of Autonomy in the Tindouf Camps, the Polisario militias intercepted Souaid and his family on the road linking the camps to Tindouf, and subsequently kidnapped him.

The group confirmed that Souaid had recently appeared in a video clip discussing the issue of fuel smuggling, which had been exposed by a group of youth in the camps.

Smuggled Algerian fuel has been transported to Mauritania via trucks carrying between 10 to 40 tons, with the intention of selling it on the Mauritanian borders, according to  This practice had led to inflated prices in the camps and neglected the needs of the local population.

The revelation of these illicit practices has sparked outrage among the local population, resulting in an uprising of the Beihat tribe and direct confrontation between the rebels and the repressive Polisario forces.

The protesters have denounced the financial and moral corruption within the separatist front, which has become increasingly difficult to address.

In a statement, the protesters highlighted the pervasiveness of corruption within the organization, stating that “financial and moral corruption has become deeply rooted within the separatist movement and is now challenging to confront.”

They emphasized that this scourge has severely impacted the Sahrawi citizens, who are facing real problems due to corruption.

The statement also stressed the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the dens of the corrupt and bring those responsible to justice. Although acknowledging the challenges of combating corruption, the protesters called on the youth to fight against senior officials who engage in corrupt practices, without fear of reprisals.