According to a statement disseminated via its official news agency, the Polisario asserts that Syria’s government refutes having their combatants detained within Syrian jails. This appears to be part of a retaliatory move amid global efforts aimed at labeling the group as a terrorist entity.
The Polisario Front has blamed the Syrian presidency for the lack of “Sahrawi combatants in Syrian jails.” The organization asserted in a statement released yesterday evening that there is no proof indicating the existence of Sahrawi fighters—”whether currently or previously—in either Syria or its detention centers” during Bashar al-Assad’s rule. This was communicated in a communique shared late at night through official channels.
Sahrawi Press Service
(SPS).
“All people held after the conclusion of military activities were Syrians implicated in war crimes. If any foreigners had been apprehended, Syrian authorities would have officially communicated this issue to their home countries,” the source further stated.
The Polisario welcomed what they termed “a statement from the Syrian presidency,” asserting that it undermines Morocco’s claims about having Polisario fighters detained in Syrian jails. Nevertheless, this purported statement has solely appeared through media channels and social platforms linked to the separatist group.
The official Syrian news agency has not mentioned any “statement from the presidency.” Although the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement, it was limited to the government’s opposition to “any external intervention in its domestic matters.”
Shared Interests Between Morocco and Syria
Similar to Algeria, the Polisario frequently spreads misinformation for domestic propaganda reasons. The organization is presently at an impasse, while efforts continue to label it as a terrorist group in the United States and certain European countries.
gaining traction
“, said a security source from Morocco.
«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».
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Morocco has shown backing for Syria’s reconstruction. On December 9, 2024, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita declared that current changes should result in stability, fulfill the desires of the Syrian populace, and provide a brighter future for the nation.
This stance was succeeded by a telephone conversation with his Syrian peer, Assaad Hassan Al-Chibani, on December 30, and a follow-up meeting between them in Mecca on March 7. Additionally, King Mohammed VI dispatched a message.
message of congratulations
to Ahmed Al-Charaa on February 4, marking his appointment as president of Syria during the transitional period.
Polisario’s Latest Statement Echoes Past Controversies
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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