Saharawis in Algeria

A few days ago we visited a conference where they discussed the issue of Saharawis living in other parts of Algeria. There were several visitors from the occupied areas there as well as representatives from the board of Polisario, among them the president.

Many young Saharawis go to Algeria with the support for Polisario for there studies as there are no universities or upper secondary schools in the camps. Some also go to Spain and Cuba. Yesterday, the oldest brother in my family returned from Spain to Laayoune after three years of not seeing them. Another man we talked to spent 14 years in Cuba studying and working. When these Saharawis return to the camps with a degree, they often find that there are few relevant jobs in which they can use their knowledge. Consequently, some decide to stay and work outside the camps. Many of the young people we've got to know so are travelling to Algeria these days to study. It is easy to understand why some of them will decide to stay for a bit longer before eventually returning to the camps. Our Arabic teacher explained to us that it is important for the Polisario that people do return to the camps in order to demonstrate they don't accept to be destined in Algeria: Western Sahara is where they really belong. As an uncle of my family said one evening: “We are not living here because of famine or natural disasters, we are political refugees”.