AEI Report Criticizes U.S. Funding of MINURSO, Calls It a Betrayal of Abraham Accords Partner Morocco
The American Enterprise Institute's article criticizes U.S. funding for MINURSO, viewing it as a betrayal of the Abraham Accords that recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. It highlights the plight of Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf camps, implicating the Polisario Front's control and calling for a reassessment of U.S. support.
hassan benyoub 
Washington, D.C., March 19, 2025, 2:00 PM PDT – The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) published a significant article on Wednesday, arguing that continued U.S. funding for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) contradicts America’s recognition of Western Sahara as part of Morocco, labeling it a “betrayal” of a steadfast Abraham Accords partner. The report, shared on X by @AEI and detailed on aei.org, highlights tensions in U.S. foreign policy and the plight of Sahrawi refugees in Algeria’s Tindouf camps.
U.S. Funding of MINURSO: A Contradiction?
The AEI report asserts that the U.S., which recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in December 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, undermines its commitment by continuing to fund MINURSO, established in 1991 to oversee a referendum on the territory’s status, per un.org. Despite 34 years and billions of dollars, MINURSO has failed to conduct a census, with the report accusing it of making excuses while “subsidizing an organization that betrays an Abraham Accords participant that constantly has America’s back,” referring to Morocco, as noted in The Washington Post’s 2024 analysis of U.S.-Morocco ties.
Sahrawi Refugees in Tindouf: Held as Hostages?
The report claims that many Sahrawis in Tindouf camps, located in southwestern Algeria, wish to return to Morocco but are prevented by the Polisario Front, a Marxist group backed by Algeria claiming to represent the Sahrawi people. It alleges that the Polisario holds refugees’ wives and children as “hostages” to block resettlement, per aei.org. This aligns with a 2023 Human Rights Watch report on hrw.org, which notes the Polisario’s control over the camps, limiting freedom of movement and political dissent, though it stops short of confirming hostage-taking.
Web results, such as unric.org (March 2024), describe the harsh conditions in Tindouf, where 90,000 Sahrawi refugees endure extreme heat and isolation, a situation ongoing since Spain’s 1975 withdrawal from Western Sahara. The AEI report argues that U.S. funding for these camps grants “undeserved legitimacy” to the Polisario, perpetuating the conflict, as echoed on X by @SaharaWatch.
Broader Implications
The AEI critique calls for ending U.S. support for MINURSO, suggesting its officials are more often found in bars in Laayoune or Dakhla than working on solutions, per aei.org. This comes amid Algeria’s refusal to allow a census, as reported by press.un.org, and its delegation of authority to the Polisario, raising human rights concerns, per a 2023 HRW report. Posts on X, like @MoroccoVoice’s, support AEI’s stance, while @PolisarioSupport defends the group’s role, accusing Morocco of oppression.
The U.S. has not responded to the report, but its $7.5 million annual contribution to MINURSO, per UN News (2024), remains a point of contention, potentially straining ties with Morocco, a key ally in counterterrorism and trade, per a 2025 Carnegie Endowment analysis.
