Summer University for Polisario Front and Sahrawi State Cadres: A Platform for Training and a Forum for Solidarity

 

The 14th edition of the Summer University for cadres of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi State concluded on Thursday in Algeria’s Boumerdes Province. Held from August 10 to 20, 2026, under the theme “Self-determination and independence are an inalienable right,” the event brought together Sahrawi cadres as well as Algerian and Sahrawi political, academic, human rights, and media figures.

Hosted by university and training institutions in Boumerdes, the Summer University featured a ten-day program addressing political, legal, media, historical, and social issues, as well as human rights, natural resources, Sahrawi state-building, and international relations.

For the organizers and participants, the Summer University provided an opportunity for training, the exchange of expertise, and discussion of the challenges facing the Sahrawi cause.

Algerian History and the Sahrawi Struggle

The program also included lectures examining key historical milestones of the Algerian Revolution and the Sahrawi national struggle.

In this context, Professor Knoud Abdelhamid delivered a presentation on the August 20, 1955 attacks in the Constantine region, examining the political and military circumstances surrounding them and their consequences inside and outside Algeria.

The attacks in the Constantine region are regarded as a major milestone in the history of the Algerian Revolution. They contributed to expanding the confrontation with French colonialism, demonstrated the popular nature of the revolution, and helped draw international attention to the Algerian cause.

The lecturer linked the study of the Algerian experience to several stages of the Sahrawi struggle, referring in particular to the Guelta Zemmour operation, which took place in October 1981.

According to the presentation, the operation represented an important military and political milestone in the history of the confrontation between Sahrawi forces and Moroccan occupying forces. The lecturer said that the Sahrawi army inflicted heavy losses on Moroccan forces during the operation.

He argued that the significance of the operation was not limited to its military dimension, but also extended to its political and media impact, as it was among the operations that contributed to highlighting the Sahrawi cause on the regional and international scene.

Human Rights Activists Warn of the Situation of Sahrawi Civilian Prisoners in Occupied Territory

The human rights situation in the occupied part of Western Sahara was given considerable attention during the discussions. Sahrawi human rights activists spoke about the conditions of civilian prisoners, activists, and Sahrawi students.

Former political prisoner and Sahrawi human rights activist Abdelmoula Mohamed El Hafidhi said, in statements carried by the Algerian Press Service on the sidelines of the Summer University, that the occupied Sahrawi territories were witnessing an escalation in security measures and repression.

El Hafidhi added that Sahrawi defenders of the right to self-determination face restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, as well as pressure on political prisoners and their families.

He also spoke about his personal experience in Moroccan prisons, saying that he spent approximately ten years behind bars. According to his testimony, his detention conditions were characterized by discrimination, deprivation of rights, medical neglect, and restrictions on visits and communication with the outside world.

In this context, he referred to a decision by the United Nations Committee against Torture concerning his case, saying that the committee considered the conditions of his detention in Aït Melloul prison to be inconsistent with Morocco’s obligations under the Convention against Torture.

The human rights situation in Western Sahara remains one of the issues that continues to receive attention from international bodies.

Students at the Center of the Human Rights Debate

Participants at the Summer University also discussed the situation of Sahrawi students at Moroccan universities.

Sahrawi student Mohamed Mouloud Mohamed said that students face pressure and restrictions because of their political and human rights activities.

Sahrawi student and former political prisoner Ibrahim Babit, for his part, spoke about the situation of students, considering them a key component of Sahrawi activism within Moroccan universities.

Participants called on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the situation in Western Sahara, including the establishment of an international mechanism to monitor and document human rights conditions in the occupied territory.

The Polisario Front has for years called for the establishment of an independent UN mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara, while the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, does not have an explicit mandate to monitor human rights.

Discussions Focus on Media and Building Public Confidence

During the lectures held throughout the Summer University, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the ideas presented by the speakers.

Part of the discussion focused on how to develop a media strategy capable of addressing misinformation and propaganda campaigns attributed by participants to the Moroccan occupying authorities, as well as the need to improve the speed of response to events and develop content published on digital platforms.

Participants also discussed the importance of strengthening public participation in media work and not limiting efforts to combat misinformation to official media institutions, given that social media has become a major arena for shaping public opinion.

The discussions concluded with an emphasis on the need to develop professional tools for collecting and verifying information and to strengthen the capacities of journalists and activists working in digital media.

Media in the Face of Psychological Warfare

The role of media in confronting what participants described as Moroccan psychological warfare was one of the main themes of the program.

In this context, journalist Hamma El Mahdi delivered a lecture entitled “Media in the Face of Psychological Warfare,” examining propaganda and media influence techniques, particularly those relying on social media and instant-messaging applications to disseminate inaccurate news, rumors, and misleading information.

Hamma El Mahdi said that targeting the “home front” is not limited to spreading misleading information or news, but can also, according to his presentation, extend to attempts to influence identity and belonging, fuel social divisions, undermine confidence in institutions and achievements, and affect morale.

He called for caution in dealing with such content and warned against contributing to its dissemination by reposting it or interacting with it in ways that increase its reach.

He also urged Sahrawi media outlets to develop professional mechanisms for monitoring and analyzing misleading content and to move from simply responding to news after it has spread toward a proactive approach based on producing content capable of reaching audiences before competing narratives become entrenched.

Among the proposals presented during the lecture was the creation of specialized media-monitoring and analysis teams tasked with tracking content published on digital platforms, identifying sources of misinformation and the mechanisms through which it spreads, and preparing rapid responses based on reliable data and sources.

Hamma El Mahdi also stressed the importance of involving young people in this work, given their extensive presence on social media platforms and their skills in producing digital content and highlighting key issues, including the situation of Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, human rights, and natural resources in the occupied territories.

Culture Accompanies the Political and Training Program

In addition to lectures and seminars, the Summer University program included cultural and artistic activities.

Evening events were organized in honor of participants and featured performances by an Algerian musical group, combining music, social interaction, and a welcoming atmosphere for the guests.

Boumerdes also hosted cultural and artistic activities showcasing elements of Sahrawi heritage, including traditional music, the oud, and Sahrawi songs.

Alongside their cultural dimension, these activities reflected the nature of Algerian-Sahrawi relations and provided participants with an opportunity to interact outside the lecture halls.

Training and State-Building

Throughout the university, the program addressed a broad range of topics related to national state-building, the role of civil society, international relations, international law, human rights, and natural resources.

Participants stressed the importance of continuous training for Sahrawi cadres as a means of developing political, administrative, media, and legal skills and keeping pace with developments taking place in the region and around the world.

President of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People Highlights the Educational Importance of the Summer University

During the closing ceremony of the 14th edition of the Summer University for cadres of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi State, Dr. Saïd Ayachi, President of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, emphasized the importance of the event in strengthening training, capacity-building, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

He highlighted its educational role in developing the capacities of Sahrawi cadres and enabling them to keep pace with the various challenges associated with the Sahrawi cause.

Dr. Saïd Ayachi praised the quality of the Summer University’s program, including its lectures, seminars, and discussions covering a range of political, legal, media, social, and economic issues, contributing to greater awareness and reinforcing a culture of continuous training among cadres.

In the same context, the President of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People expressed his thanks and appreciation to all institutions and bodies that contributed to the success of the 14th edition, praising the efforts of the Algerian authorities, Boumerdes Province, and all those who provided the necessary conditions for the success of this training and solidarity event.

The closing ceremony was attended by Sahrawi Prime Minister Bachraya Beyoun, alongside local authorities from Boumerdes Province, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Algeria, representatives of civil society, as well as cadres of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi State and participants in the Summer University.

The 14th edition concluded with an emphasis on the importance of continuing such training and solidarity initiatives and strengthening communication and cooperation between the Algerian and Sahrawi peoples.

Fatima Mehdi Praises Algerian Support

During the closing ceremony, Summer University President, member of the National Secretariat, and Sahrawi Minister of Cooperation Fatima Mehdi expressed her gratitude to the Algerian institutions and bodies that contributed to organizing the event.

She praised the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the participants in Boumerdes, and said that the lectures and discussions provided an opportunity for exchanging knowledge and expertise between Sahrawi cadres and Algerian participants.

She stressed that the Summer University has become an important occasion for training and communication, as well as an opportunity to strengthen relations between Algeria and the Polisario Front.

Boumerdes Governor Reaffirms Readiness to Host Future Editions

Boumerdes Governor Fawzia Naâma affirmed that the success of the 14th edition of the Summer University for cadres of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi State was the result of the combined efforts of various Algerian institutions and bodies.

In remarks during the closing ceremony, she expressed her appreciation to the Algerian institutions and organizations that helped provide the necessary conditions for hosting and ensuring the success of the event, stressing Boumerdes Province’s pride in hosting this training and solidarity occasion.

She wished all participants and Sahrawi cadres success and expressed hope that they had benefited from the series of lectures and seminars held throughout the university, which addressed a wide range of topics of importance to Sahrawi national work.

Fawzia Naâma also reaffirmed Boumerdes Province’s readiness to continue hosting future editions of the Summer University for cadres of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi State, reflecting the depth of the relations of solidarity and fraternity between Algeria and the Sahrawi people.

Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria Highlights the Importance of the Summer University in Strengthening Communication and Exchange of Expertise

The Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Khadri Addouh, highlighted the importance of the Sahrawi Embassy’s support for the 14th edition of the Summer University through continuous follow-up and participation in its various activities.

Khadri Addouh said that this support reflects the embassy’s commitment to backing and ensuring the success of the training event, which provides an important platform for communication and the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Sahrawi and Algerian elites.

He noted that the Summer University represents a model of interaction and openness to elites and professionals from neighboring countries, allowing participants to benefit from diverse experiences and expertise while strengthening bridges of communication and cooperation in various fields.

He added that the experience established by the Summer University, through its space for dialogue, discussion, and the exchange of ideas, is worthy of further development and expansion, given its importance in broadening communication among elites and strengthening the bonds of fraternity and solidarity between the Algerian and Sahrawi peoples.

Closing Ceremony Attended by Officials and Political and Civil Society Figures.

The closing ceremony of the 14th edition was attended by Sahrawi Prime Minister Bachraya Beyoun, Summer University President Fatima Mehdi, Boumerdes Governor Fawzia Naâma, President of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People Saïd Ayachi, and Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria Khadri Addouh, alongside representatives of local authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, and civil society figures.

With the conclusion of the university’s activities, self-determination and independence remained a central theme in the political messages accompanying the event.

For the organizers, the importance of the Summer University was not limited to its political dimension. It also encompassed training, the exchange of expertise, and capacity-building in the fields of media, diplomacy, law, institutional work, and civil society.

For participants, the ten days in Boumerdes provided a space to discuss the challenges of the coming period, ranging from improving media performance and combating misinformation to issues concerning human rights, students, natural resources, and international relations.

The 14th edition thus concluded a program combining politics, training, history, and culture, at a time when international efforts continue to seek a political settlement to the Western Sahara conflict and the decolonization of what the organizers describe as Africa’s last remaining colony.