U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) have introduced the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026. The move comes as the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bipartisan bill tabled last June by Republican Joe Wilson (South-Carolina) and Democrat Jimmy Panetta (CA) for branding the Algeria-backed Polisario militia as Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Senator Cruz said: “The Iranian regime is trying to turn the Polisario Front into the Houthis of West Africa and use them to undermine the national security of the United States and our allies.”
“The Polisario Front is working with Iranian terrorist groups, receiving drones from the IRGC, and moving weapons around the region on behalf of the Iranian regime”, added Mr. Cruz, noting that the bill will ensure that America’s most powerful anti-terrorism sanctions can be used to counter those threats.
Once the Polisario Terrorist Designation Act is secured, the Algeria-backed armed group and its leaders will be cut off from access to the global financial system, international travel, and the resources they rely upon to conduct their terrorism acts.
Senator Cotton said: “the Polisario Front is a terrorist organization that openly supports Iran and Hezbollah. Designating these terrorists as such is long overdue.”
For his part, Sen. Scott said that the Polisario Front’s ties to adversaries like Iran… and its cooperation with Iranian-backed terrorists like Hezbollah must be confronted.
“I am so proud to join Senator Cruz on this bill to ensure the United States has the tools to fully investigate these terrorists and hold those involved accountable”, he added.
At the US House of Representatives, H.R. 4119 bill introduced by Rep. Representatives Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta has gained the support of Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida), Jefferson Shreve (Indiana), Randy Fine (Florida) Lance Gooden (Texas), Pat Harrigan (North Carolina) Zachary Nunn (Iowa) , Don Bacon (Nebraska) and Claudia Tenney (New York).
More Congressmen and Senators are expected to join in the whirlwind gathering force against the Polisario and its sponsors, especially Algeria at the U.S. Congress.
