Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has urged the U.S. administration to add Algeria on its State Sponsors of Terrorism list for the support provided by the Algerian regime to the polisario, a terrorist organization.
“Algeria must be held accountable for its support of the Polisario Front”, said the American attorney in a letter published lately in the Washington Times.
“For decades, Algeria, with the help of Iran, has provided military and material support to the Polisario Front, a terrorist organization that Algeria uses to destabilize neighboring Morocco”, underlined Mr. Mark Brnovich, who also served a U.S. prosecutor & judge.
He said Iran provides this support to undermine the U.S. and its allies (in this case, Morocco), noting that the Polisario Front has established a corridor there for gun running and other illicit activities while courting ties with various terrorist organizations targeting the Sahrawi people.
“It also foments corruption. A report by the European Anti-Fraud Office notes that between 2004 and 2007, the Polisario Front stole and misused international assistance designated for Sahrawi refugees”, said Mr. Brnovich, a Republican politician.
He cited in this regard, the State Department’s 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism which warned that the U.S. continues to address threats posed by state-sponsored terrorism, acknowledging the growing threat of the Islamic State in West Africa and the Sahel.
“As these state-sponsored terrorist groups continue to gain strength, they remain a persistent threat to us. With continued Algerian support, the Polisario Front will retain its fertile recruiting grounds in Sahara”, said the former U.S. Attorney General.
The case for Iran’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism has been clear for decades. Now, with the evidence mounting against Algeria for its support of the Polisario Front, it is time the U.S. also recognizes Algeria for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism, underlined Mr. Mark Brnovich.
The U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism includes four countries: Cuba, North Korea, Iran and Syria. U.S. laws penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with states sponsoring terrorism.
The U.S. imposes sanctions on designated state sponsors of terrorism. These include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.
Source : North Africa Post
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