Polisario, Syria, and false allegations : A distraction amid Rabat–Damascus rapprochement
The Polisario Front has attributed the absence of «Sahrawi fighters in Syrian prisons» to the Syrian presidency. «There is no evidence of the presence of Sahrawi fighters—neither in Syria, nor in its prisons—either today or in the past under Bashar al-Assad's regime», the group stated in a communiqué published late last night by the Sahrawi Press Service (SPS).
«All individuals detained following the end of military operations were Syrians involved in war crimes. Had any foreign nationals been arrested, Syrian authorities would have formally addressed the matter with their respective governments», the same source added.
The Polisario hailed what it described as «a statement from the Syrian presidency», claiming it discredits Moroccan allegations regarding the presence of Polisario militiamen in Syrian prisons. However, this supposed statement has only been circulated by media outlets and social media pages affiliated with the separatist movement.
Syria's official news agency has made no mention of a «statement from the presidency». While the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did issue a statement, it pertained only to the government's rejection of «any foreign interference in its internal affairs».
«Akin to Algeria, the Polisario routinely disseminates disinformation for internal propaganda purposes. The group is currently in a deadlock, while the campaign to designate it as a terrorist organization in the United States and parts of Europe is gaining traction », a Moroccan security source told Yabiladi.
«Meanwhile, political relations between Morocco and Syria's new leadership are strong. Ahmed Al-Charaa's Syria has aligned itself more closely with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and has distanced itself from Iran and Hezbollah—an orientation Morocco shares», the same source noted.
The source further revealed that «Syrian officials have been traveling between Casablanca and Damascus to persuade longtime opponents of the Assad regime—many of whom have settled in Morocco and hold Moroccan nationality, particularly investors—to return and contribute to the country's fragile stabilization efforts».
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Morocco has expressed support for Syria's recovery. On December 9, 2024, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that recent developments «should lead to stability, meet the aspirations of the Syrian people, and offer a better future for the country».
This position was followed by a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Assaad Hassan Al-Chibani, on December 30, and a subsequent meeting between the two in Mecca on March 7. King Mohammed VI also sent a message of congratulations to Ahmed Al-Charaa on February 4, marking his appointment as president of Syria during the transitional period.
The Polisario's May 5 statement recalls the « apology » issued by The Washington Post, after the paper claimed on April 20 that Sahrawi detainees were being held in Syrian prisons.
At the same time, Polisario supporters in Spain have been actively publishing op-eds in Spanish media outlets denouncing the campaign to label the Front a terrorist organization—carefully avoiding any criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump. These efforts were undercut by a single appearance by a Polisario «minister», who openly endorsed terrorist actions.
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