Former French intelligence officer Mathieu Gadiri has shed light on what he describes as a web of connections linking Iran with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Polisario Front. He suggests that the separatist group, backed by Algeria, could represent an extension of Iran’s regional strategy, facilitated through its allies and proxies.
In a recent interview, Gadiri noted that Iran has relied on Hezbollah as a mediator to establish communication channels with the Polisario Front. This alleged collaboration extends beyond mere political support to encompass military training and expertise across various fields. According to Gadiri, individuals associated with the Polisario have received training in areas such as drone technology, missile systems, and communications, alongside other military capabilities. This relationship allows Tehran to maintain an indirect presence in the region.
Gadiri argues that this connection can be viewed as part of a broader network of regional influence, wherein the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, particularly the Quds Force, provides strategic guidance and resources while Hezbollah acts as an operational link between Tehran and the Polisario. He posits that Iran aims to expand its influence into North Africa and possibly the Sahel region, while the Polisario could benefit from the military expertise and training that this association affords.
In this context, Algeria emerges as a pivotal player, serving as the base from which the Polisario operates, and facilitating the establishment of external communication channels. Gadiri’s remarks come at a time when Morocco’s 2018 decision to sever diplomatic ties with Iran due to alleged support for the Polisario by Tehran, via Hezbollah, remains relevant. Although Iran denied these accusations at the time, the matter has resurfaced amid ongoing discussions in the United States regarding the presumed relationship between Iran and the Polisario Front. Lawmakers in both chambers of Congress are advocating for legislation that would classify the separatist group as a terrorist organization.
These developments reignite critical questions about the potential links between various regional and international actors, as well as the possibility of leveraging the conflict over Western Sahara within the broader power dynamics shaping North Africa and the Sahel.
