Algerian Radio Sparks Controversy by Spreading Misleading Information on Polisario Terrorist Designation

Algerian International Radio has caused widespread controversy by publishing a report claiming that the U.S. Congress voted on a bill to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, and that only 2% of members supported the decision while 98% opposed it. However, available information indicates that this report is inaccurate, as no actual vote has taken place in Congress. Instead, the radio station relied on a probabilistic estimate from a non-governmental website that assesses the likelihood of bills passing.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr4119#google_vignette

This incident reflects ongoing political tensions surrounding the Western Sahara issue, where Algeria supports the Polisario as a liberation movement, while Morocco considers it a security threat.

On June 24, 2025, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, in cooperation with Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta, introduced a bill titled the “Polisario Terrorist Designation Act” to the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill aims to designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization due to alleged ties with Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, as well as its purported role in destabilizing Morocco, a strategic U.S. ally for 248 years. According to reports from sources such as Anadolu Agency and Assahifa, the bill remains in the early review stages within the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees and has not yet been brought to a vote.

Critics on social media platforms pointed out that Algerian Radio presented the 2% probability of the bill’s passage as if it were an actual voting result. This percentage, cited by the station, comes from a non-governmental site that provides statistical estimates of the likelihood of bills passing in Congress and can increase as the bill advances through legislative stages. Nevertheless, the radio portrayed this figure as a voting outcome, claiming that only 2% of Congress members supported the bill while 98% rejected it. This misrepresentation sparked accusations of misinformation and lying, with social media users labeling the report a “media scandal.”

The official U.S. Congress website clearly shows that the bill is still in its initial stages.

This event occurs amid ongoing political tensions between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara dispute. Algeria supports the Polisario Front as a liberation movement seeking independence for Western Sahara, while Morocco views the Polisario as a security threat backed by Iran and Hezbollah. According to a report from the Hudson Institute, the Polisario is accused of violating the 1991 ceasefire agreement, smuggling weapons, and collaborating with terrorist groups in the Sahel region. These allegations have fueled calls in the U.S. to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization, especially given Morocco’s status as a strategic ally.

The incident provoked widespread outrage on social media, where users described Algerian Radio’s report as an attempt to distort facts in a politically sensitive context. One user commented: “Algerian Radio invents mathematics and politics in one news piece. How can 2% of one vote in Congress cancel the designation of the Polisario as a terrorist organization?” Another added: “The U.S. Congress has not yet voted on a bill to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization, and what Algerian Radio published is a media scandal based on deception and lies.” These criticisms underscore the need to verify information before publication, especially on sensitive issues like Western Sahara.

This incident is part of the ongoing political dispute over Western Sahara, where mutual accusations between Algeria and Morocco heighten diplomatic tensions. Media misinformation risks deepening these tensions, particularly if Algerian media continues to disseminate inaccurate information. Moreover, if the designation of the Polisario as a terrorist organization is approved, it could have significant diplomatic repercussions, especially for countries supporting the Polisario such as Algeria and South Africa.

Algerian Radio has provided misleading information regarding the U.S. Congress’s stance on designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization by presenting a probabilistic estimate as an actual vote result. This misinformation highlights the importance of verifying facts before dissemination, especially concerning sensitive issues like Western Sahara. The public is advised to follow official sources such as the U.S. Congress website, Anadolu Agency, and Assahifa for accurate updates on this matter.

Source: Fes News