Algeria Reportedly Spends $1 Billion Annually Supporting Western Sahara’s Polisario Front

According to a military source, "the ’SADR’ costs the Algerian state, on average, one billion dollars," reports Algérie Part Plus. Since Morocco annexed the Sahara in 1975, Algeria, the protector of the Polisario, has been one of the countries or international organizations providing aid to the "SADR", in areas such as health, economy, education, politics, diplomacy as well as military equipment and training. In 2010, its contribution was $2.2 million.

In the health sector, Algeria financially supported in 2021 to the tune of 60% about thirty clinics and dispensaries, a main hospital in Rabouni and five regional hospitals. The Algerian state also takes care of the transfers to the hospitals in Algiers and Oran, as well as the costs corresponding to the care that cannot be provided in the camps. The budget of the Ministry of Health of the "SADR" amounted to nearly $3 million last year.

In the education sector, the Algerian government provides free access to higher education in Algeria to hundreds of refugees from the camps. In the defense sector, the Algerian army (ANP) supports the bulk of the "SADR" budget. It provides fuel, equipment, weapons and training to the approximately 10,000 men making up the total strength of the Polisario fighters. The budget of the Ministry of Defense of the "SADR" amounts to nearly $497 million, mainly financed by Algeria.