The former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump has openly voiced his support for the Polisario Front, amid diplomatic turmoil. In a passionate op-ed, Bolton calls for a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara, criticizes U.S. alignment with Moroccan positions, and raises concerns about a potential Russian-Chinese breakthrough in Africa. His stance echoes arguments put forward by Algiers, even as some U.S. lawmakers push to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization. John Bolton is back on the international stage, this time advocating for the Polisario Front. As calls mount to classify the Polisario as a terrorist organization in the United States, the former National Security Advisor under the Trump administration argues in an op-ed that «U.S. should support a referendum allowing Sahrawis to determine their own future». In a surprising twist, Bolton justifies his call for the U.S. to back the Polisario by warning about «Chinese and Russian influence mounting across Africa, suggesting that continued American support for Morocco could open the door to their increased presence in the region. Bolton leans heavily on historical arguments, referencing Security Council Resolution 690, which established MINURSO in 1991 with U.S. support. His position closely mirrors those of Algeria and the Polisario, who have long demanded a self-determination referendum for Western Sahara and the implementation of the African settlement plan. However, Bolton omits a crucial historical fact: the UN abandoned the referendum option in the early 2000s. Under the leadership of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UN dissolved the commission responsible for identifying eligible participants for the proposed vote. It's a significant omission, particularly for Bolton, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the UN from 2005 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. «The Polisario is Not Under Iran's Influence» Bolton also pushes back against accusations that the Polisario is aligned with Iran. After criticizing what he describes as Morocco's «obstacles» to holding a referendum, Bolton defends the Polisario's reputation: «The Polisario's opponents are trying a new line of propaganda, alleging without evidence that the Polisario has come under Iran's influence. This misinformation may well be intended to divert U.S. attention from Morocco's decadeslong stonewalling against a referendum». Bolton adds: «Sahrawi opponents have gone as far as claiming that Polisario fighters were among foreign militias Iran trained in Syria under the now-fallen Assad regime». He cites reports by The Washington Post and other publications, which state that both the Syrian government and the Polisario have categorically denied these allegations. «But Morocco's friends in the West continue to spread them», Bolton claims. «Perhaps influenced by this anti-Sahrawi propaganda, legislation has been introduced in the House to designate Polisario as a terrorist group», referring to legislation introduced by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson. Context and Contradictions Bolton further argues that the Sahrawis «never succumbed to the radicalism that swept the Middle East after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Claims that Sahrawis are susceptible to Tehran-based Shiite propaganda are belied by the long-standing presence in the camps of U.S. religious, nongovernmental organizations providing educational and medical services». However, it's worth noting that in October 2019, the U.S. government offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the identification or capture of Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui, a former Polisario member who became a leading terrorist figure in the Sahel under the banner of ISIS. More recently, Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security at the Heritage Foundation—a prominent Republican think tank—reminded President Trump that the Polisario killed five American citizens in 1988. For the record, John Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump's decision on December 10, 2020, to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
