Morocco’s covert infiltration of Polisario through Latin America

An unprecedented glimpse into Morocco’s secret diplomacy reveals how Rabat orchestrated a covert operation to undermine the Polisario Front and counter Algerian influence in Central America. Confidential correspondence from October 2008, originating from the Moroccan embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, exposes a sophisticated infiltration strategy leveraging intelligence provided by Sahrawi diplomat Salama Ould Hennane.

Addressed directly to Yassine El Mansouri, then-head of Morocco’s DGED (Directorate General for Studies and Documentation), the letters—signed by Ambassador Dr. Brahim Housseine Moussa—shed light on deep tribal divisions within the separatist movement and critical geopolitical shifts, particularly in Panama.

Tribal fractures within the Polisario: A wedge strategy

The documents highlight a rare opportunity for Morocco: the potential defection of high-ranking Polisario officials. Ambassador Moussa disclosed being approached repeatedly by an individual using the alias Mr. Sliman, later identified as Salama Ould Hennane, a native of Dakhla from the Oulad Dlim tribe and a former “ambassador” of the SADR in Panama and Central America.

Sliman’s assessment was stark: a “profound discontent” was festering within the separatist ranks, fueled by blatant favoritism toward the Rguibate tribe at the expense of others, including the Oulad Dlim, Oulad Tidrarine, Ait Lahcen, Ait Baamran, and the Takna confederation.

For the former separatist diplomat, the timing was ripe to deal a decisive blow to the movement:

“This is the ideal moment to take action within the Polisario to weaken it further and unite its opponents around the autonomy initiative.”

Sliman claimed to have secured backing from several prominent SADR figures to launch an internal rebellion, including:

• Ahmed ould Souilem (Deputy Minister in charge of Arab countries).
• Mahfoud Ould Ahmed Zine (Former minister and military regional commander).
• Mansour (Former foreign minister and Paris representative).

The proposal to the DGED was bold: persuade these figures to form an official opposition bloc, publicly announce their dissent at an international press conference (likely in Madrid), and declare their support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan. Ambassador Moussa even recommended deploying Sliman as an “infiltrator” to execute the destabilization campaign.

Central America: A battleground for influence

The letters also expose a fierce rivalry between Rabat and Algiers in Latin America. In October 2008, Moroccan intelligence learned that an Algerian delegation, led by Ambassador Mr. Baali in Washington, was preparing a tour of Central America.

Algiers’ goal? To sabotage Morocco’s UN-backed Autonomy Plan by offering Latin American capitals a “package of cooperation projects”—a mix of financial and economic incentives—in exchange for alignment with separatist positions. Concurrently, the Polisario dispatched envoy Mohamed Yaslem Beissat to Panama in a desperate effort to repair its crumbling influence.

Panama: The linchpin of the covert war

Panama emerged as the epicenter of this shadow conflict. Documents confirmed a cooling of relations between Panama City and the separatists, as Panamanian authorities refused to accredit a new SADR ambassador, demoting the Sahrawi representation to a mere “charge d’affaires.”

In response, the Moroccan ambassador urgently alerted Rabat, warning that Panama expected a reciprocal gesture. The diplomat insisted on dispatching an official envoy to solidify bilateral ties and block Algerian advances. In a final lobbying push, he activated trusted contacts within Panama’s government to thwart Polisario demands, hinting at dire consequences should Panama backtrack: “Any reversal could harm bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Morocco.”

Mohamed Abdelaziz’s secret agenda

The precision of Morocco’s intelligence was further demonstrated in a document dated October 27, 2008, which meticulously outlined the future itinerary of then-Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz: a November 4 visit to New York to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, followed by a November 9 trip to Valencia, Spain, for the European Conference in Support of the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO).

These diplomatic archives lay bare the true nature of the Sahara conflict: a shadow war where North Africa and Latin America collide, and where alliances are forged as much in the hushed corridors of embassies as in the arena of tribal rivalries.