DR ‹ › On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which marks the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa on March 21, 1960, the Alliance of Sahrawi NGOs is issuing an urgent plea to acknowledge and address the persistent discrimination occurring in the Tindouf camps, Algeria. Working with United Nations mechanisms and regional organizations, the Alliance condemns systemic practices rooted in race, origin, and identity. It highlights that «these discriminations extend beyond overt legal frameworks and are evident in real-world issues such as statelessness, lack of civil status documentation, restricted freedom of movement, and the intimidation of dissenting voices». «Black-skinned populations, Sahel-Saharan migrants, and individuals of sub-Saharan origin endure systematic rights violations, including denial of access to civil registration, healthcare, and education. The absence of a census in the Tindouf camps further denies them legal protection under international refugee law.» The Alliance also condemns «documented instances of arbitrary detention, torture, and slavery, citing numerous cases recorded since 2016». It attributes the lack of effective judicial recourse, due to the de facto delegation of authority to the Polisario, as fostering a climate of impunity. The Alliance urges «Algeria to permit independent international oversight in the Tindouf camps and to fully meet its obligations as a host state». It also underscores the need for a legal framework that ensures refugee status, access to civil identity, and effective protection against all forms of discrimination. As a reminder, a Sahrawi association recently protested in the Tindouf camps against a racist attack on a black child, an incident that the Polisario leadership is reportedly trying to cover up.
