Accusations and testimonies point to possible links between the Azawad Liberation Front, jihadist groups active in the Sahel, and the Polisario, with areas of influence reportedly extending into Algeria. DR ‹ › Are elements of the Polisario involved alongside separatist and terrorist groups operating in Mali? «The presence of Polisario members in the Malian conflict, particularly within the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), cannot be ruled out», a former member of the movement led by Brahim Ghali, who has since returned to Morocco, told Yabiladi. «The Tindouf camps in Algeria have hosted a significant Tuareg community from Mali for decades. Some of its members fought against Morocco before the 1991 ceasefire. Since then, they have settled permanently in these camps, where they are fully integrated into the social fabric and fluent in Hassaniya. Several are part of the Polisario's armed militias», he added. ???? All specialists agree on recognizing Algeria's involvement in the terrorist and separatist attacks in Mali, an open secret reinforced by consistent evidence pointing to the supply of weapons and intelligence to the JNIM and the FLA. (@FRANCE24) pic.twitter.com/cAsPeZ3Ak2 — Dr. Talal Cherkaoui (@CherkaouiTalal) April 28, 2026 After two rounds of discussions on the Sahara issue in February, first at the US Embassy in Madrid and then in Washington, Brahim Ghali met with representatives of the Azawad community. They reportedly expressed concerns about political developments that could marginalize them in a future settlement of the Sahara issue. The Polisario leader reassured them, describing them as an integral part of «Sahrawi society», despite their exclusion from the Spanish census at the time. Sahara–Sahel: a link through armed groups A Moroccan security source, speaking to Yabiladi on condition of anonymity, also did not rule out the presence of Polisario elements in the Malian conflict. «The Azawad Liberation Front, the jihadists of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, as well as the Polisario, follow the directives of Algerian generals», the source said. «Cooperation between these entities is entirely logical. FLA separatists and JNIM militants also find refuge on Algerian territory to escape strikes by the Malian army», the source added. The same source pointed to «historical ties» between Malian Tuareg groups and the Polisario leadership, while noting that the movement also maintains links with jihadist groups in the Sahel, particularly those led by Iyad Ag Ghaly. «After the killing of former Polisario member Abou Walid al-Sahraoui in September 2021, several of his fighters joined Ag Ghaly», the source said. It is worth noting that a media outlet close to the Polisario claimed in 2017 that terrorist groups operating in the Sahel recruit from within the Tindouf camps. For years, Moroccan intelligence services have also warned about the risks associated with individuals leaving the camps in the Algerian desert to join groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other Daesh-affiliated organizations.
