Polisario or a Sicario? A Model of the Terroristic Foreign Fighters

This paper examines the Polisario Front as a model for understanding how separatist groups have transformed into foreign fighter terrorist networks, focusing on their alleged links to Iranian-backed militias and activities in Syria. It also discusses the implications of their potential designation as a foreign terrorist organization. Much evidence has highlighted their transnational networks with terrorist organizations linked to Iran and the former Syrian regime. The group is also deeply rooted in organized crime in the Sahel region. This article argues that to explore the prospects of designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization, it is necessary to understand its operating mechanism and objectives, which include gaining recognition in the context of its separatist demands and support, including obtaining weapons from Iran, particularly in the context of its threat to carry out hostile actions against Morocco. This article presents a descriptive empirical analysis of the "foreign terrorist fighter" framework and its application to the Polisario Front, based on a database and data related to its terrorist activities. The findings are expected to be useful to policymakers seeking to combat terrorist groups that threaten regional and international security.