When it comes to Morocco, Algerian media often prioritize speed over accuracy, favoring sensational headlines over verified facts. That pattern repeated itself this week, as several Algerian outlets rushed to publish a false story claiming the U.S. Congress had «slapped Morocco» by voting 98% against a proposed bill to classify the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. But what's the reality behind this claim? In a new episode of Algerian media disinformation, both state-owned and private outlets in Algeria have circulated a false report claiming that the U.S. Congress voted 98% against a bill proposing to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, framing it as a «resounding slap» to Morocco. Algerian media outlets amplified the claim, presenting it as a «diplomatic victory» for the Polisario Front. Some went further, describing it as proof of «growing awareness and support in the U.S. Congress for the just Sahrawi cause» and as evidence of the «isolation of the Moroccan occupation regime». ?#الكونغرس_الأمريكي humiliates the Makhzen: Bill against Polisario fails by 98% ?The Makhzen regime received another resounding slap in the halls of the U.S. Congress, after revealing a success rate of no more than 2% for bill H.R. 4119, which seeks to impose sanctions on the #البوليساريو. This bill, funded and promoted by… pic.twitter.com/vsPOgX9kTR — Radio Algeria international إذاعة الجزائر الدولية (@radioalginter) July 8, 2025 The report was widely shared on social media by Polisario-aligned accounts and even posted by Radio Algeria International, which cited the supposed 98% «failure» rate of the bill H.R. 4119, introduced by Republican Representative Joe Wilson, aimed at imposing sanctions on the Polisario Front. But the bill was never even put to a vote The claim was not based on any official U.S. source, nor on reporting from any accredited media outlet. Instead, it was pulled from a non-governmental website, GovTrack.us, a private project developed by Joshua Tauberer and maintained with Amy West, neither of whom have ties to the U.S. government or Congress. The site clearly states that H.R. 4119 is in the earliest stage of the legislative process. It was introduced on June 24, 2025, and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee two days later. It has not been debated, discussed, nor scheduled for a vote in either the House or Senate. The «2% success rate» cited by the site is a statistical estimate based on historical patterns, not a vote outcome, nor a reflection of Congressional opposition to the bill. According to the U.S. legislative process, a bill must pass through several stages - committee consideration, House and Senate votes - before reaching the President for approval and enactment. None of these steps have occurred for H.R. 4119. This latest manipulation of information fits within a broader pattern of Algerian media efforts to reframe the Polisario Front's image in the face of dwindling international support. It also comes amid the steady growth in international recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, including formal acknowledgment by the United States, upheld across both Republican and Democratic administrations.
