Internal documents from October 2008 offer a rare glimpse into the covert operations of Moroccan intelligence and diplomacy. Confidential letters sent from the Moroccan embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, detail a sophisticated strategy designed to penetrate the Front Polisario and diminish Algerian leverage across Central America. These operations relied heavily on intelligence provided by Salama Ould Hennane, a former Sahrawi diplomat.
The correspondence, directed to Yassine El Mansouri, the head of the DGED (Direction Générale des Études et de la Documentation), was authored by Ambassador Dr Brahim Housseine Moussa. The files expose deep-seated tribal fractures within the separatist leadership and highlight significant geopolitical shifts, particularly regarding the diplomatic stance of Panama.
Exploiting tribal friction: The Rguibate vs other clans
A primary focus of these revelations is the potential defection of high-ranking Polisario officials. The Moroccan ambassador reported multiple meetings with an individual codenamed Sliman—identified as Salama Ould Hennane. Originally from Dakhla and a member of the Oulad Dlim tribe, Sliman served as a representative for the RASD in Panama and Central America.
Sliman described a climate of intense internal frustration. He pointed to systemic favoritism within the Polisario leadership, which allegedly prioritized the Rguibate tribe while marginalizing other groups such as the Oulad Dlim, Oulad Tidrarine, Ait Lahcen, Ait Baamran, and the Takna confederation.
According to the former separatist envoy, this internal discord presented a unique opportunity for Rabat:
“This is the perfect moment to strike at the heart of the Polisario, further weakening the movement and rallying its internal critics around the Moroccan autonomy proposal.”
Sliman claimed to have secured the cooperation of several prominent RASD figures ready to lead an internal rebellion, including:
- Ahmed ould Souilem (Minister Delegate for Arab Affairs).
- Mahfoud Ould Ahmed Zine (former minister and military commander).
- Mansour (former Foreign Minister and representative in Paris).
The proposed operation involved these figures forming an official opposition bloc, announcing their defection during an international press conference—likely in Madrid—and publicly endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Project. Ambassador Moussa recommended using Sliman as an infiltrated agent to coordinate this destabilization effort.
The Central American front: Algeria’s financial diplomacy
The documents also shed light on a fierce diplomatic tug-of-war between Rabat and Algiers. In late 2008, Moroccan officials tracked a high-level Algerian delegation led by M. Baali, the Algerian ambassador to Washington, as they toured Central America.
Algeria’s mission was to stall the momentum of Morocco’s autonomy plan at the UN. To maintain influence, Algiers offered various cooperation packages, essentially providing economic and financial aid to Latin American nations in exchange for their continued support of separatist claims. Meanwhile, the Polisario dispatched Mohamed Yaslem Beissat to Panama to try and stabilize their diplomatic standing.
Panama as a strategic pivot
Panama emerged as the center of this regional struggle. The leaked files confirm a significant cooling of relations between Panama City and the Polisario. Panamanian authorities notably refused to accept the credentials of a new RASD ambassador, effectively demoting the Sahrawi mission to the status of a mere “chargé d’affaires.”
Ambassador Moussa urged Rabat to capitalize on this opening, suggesting that Panama was looking for a reciprocal gesture from Morocco. He advocated for the dispatch of an official envoy to solidify bilateral ties and permanently block Algerian influence in the country.
To further this goal, the Moroccan diplomat utilized established networks within the Panamanian government to obstruct Polisario initiatives. He reportedly signaled that any reversal of Panama’s position could negatively impact its burgeoning relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco.
Monitoring Mohamed Abdelaziz
The precision of the intelligence gathered is further evidenced by a report dated October 27, 2008, which meticulously tracked the schedule of the late Polisario leader, Mohamed Abdelaziz. The documents noted his planned meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on November 4, followed by his attendance at the EUCOCO conference in Valencia, Spain, on November 9.
These diplomatic archives reveal the complex nature of the Sahara conflict, where shadow wars are fought across continents, and the strength of alliances is often determined by tribal rivalries and secret embassy negotiations.