Congressman Joe Wilson to introduce legislation designating Polisario as terrorist

Congressman Joe Wilson said he is preparing to introduce a legislation that will designate the Polisario militias as a terrorist group.

He made the statement after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the UN Envoy to the Sahara that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the sole basis for negotiations to end the over five-decade conflict.

“I agree with @SecRubio genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution for the Sahara,” Wilson said on X.

“I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists,” he said, noting that the Polisario was acting in support of Iran, which seeks “foothold in Africa via Polisario.”

Wilson had met Bourita earlier this week in Washington following a landmark reaffirmation of the Trump administration of its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory.

Marco Rubio has also reiterated Trump’s call on all parties to the Sahara conflict to engage without delay in talks on the sole framework of the Moroccan autonomy plan.

The Polisario has already unilaterally withdrawn from the 1991 UN ceasefire agreement. It has, under the instigation of Algeria, conducted skirmishes targeting Moroccan armed forces in what the UN has described as a low-intensity conflict.

The Polisario doubled down on multiple occasions targeting civilians in the Sahara territory with projectiles. In October 2023, the Polisario used terrorist tactics targeting a residential area in Smara with four explosions killing one and injuring four.

The Polisario also claimed responsibility for an attack on a rally of civilians in November 2024, who gathered in Mahbes to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the Green March. The attack could have killed scores had it not been for the vigilance of the Moroccan armed forces in thwarting the aggression.

Polisario officials have admitted to receiving arms from Iran and have often instigated indiscriminate terrorist attacks on Moroccan territory.

All the above, in addition to the alliance between the Polisario and many terrorist groups in the Sahel offer enough evidence to build on to declare the Polisario as a terrorist group.

By designating the Polisario as a terrorist group, Morocco can destroy the propaganda used by the armed Algerian proxy, which has been using the UN’s fourth committee, the African Union and the Cold War rhetoric to win support among failing states such as Venezuela and South Africa.