The Polisario militias from their headquarters in Algeria announced a “general mobilization” against Morocco on Nov 10, but the declaration has been widely dismissed as hollow propaganda timed to distract from Algeria’s latest diplomatic isolation at the United Nations.
The group issued a communiqué claiming the move responded to alleged “dangerous military activities” by Morocco along the defensive wall and in contested areas.
Morocco had made it clear that it will stay committed to the ceasefire but will ensure the security of its citizens including in the southern provinces.
The Polisario statement provided no details on locations, timelines, units, or concrete measures. It merely called on populations in the Tindouf camps to “remain ready,” appealed to the UN and African Union, and warned of possible escalation.
The announcement changes nothing on the ground. The Polisario already declared the 1991 ceasefire null and void in November 2020 after Morocco reopened the Guerguarat crossing with Mauritania.
The declaration came on the same day the UN General Assembly held a plenary on Russia’s veto that ended the MINURSO mission- a debate that highlighted the growing international consensus around Morocco’s Autonomy Plan and Algeria’s isolation.
It also followed the start of MINURSO’s liquidation and precedes the sixth anniversary of Guerguarat.
Outside Algeria, the announcement drew little attention. Algerian media close to the authorities quickly amplified it, while international coverage remained marginal.
The Polisario lacks both the military capacity and political autonomy for any meaningful campaign. Entirely dependent on Algeria for hosting in Tindouf, funding, armament, and diplomatic cover, it serves as an instrument of Algiers’ foreign policy.