A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation seeking to designate the Polisario militias as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Representative Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas, and Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey introduced the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act on July 30, calling on the US secretary of state to designate the movement as terrorist.
The bill would require a review of links between the Polisario Front and Iran, including proof of contacts with Iran-backed groups and access to military equipment. The proposal quickly attracted several co-sponsors from both parties, reflecting growing congressional interest in the issue.
“For too long, Iran and its terrorist proxies have used the Polisario Front to project instability in West Africa,” Jackson said in a statement accompanying the legislation.
Gottheimer said groups receiving support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should face scrutiny by U.S. authorities, arguing that countering Iranian influence should remain a bipartisan priority.
The initiative follows a separate House bill introduced by Republican Representative Joe Wilson that has also gained support from a growing number of lawmakers. That measure cites Iranian drone transfers, intelligence sharing and military cooperation involving Polisario fighters in the Sahel region.
In the Senate, legislation introduced by Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Rick Scott has similarly gathered backing. The proposal would require the State Department to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and travel restrictions.
The legislative push comes as diplomatic efforts continue under UN auspices to resolve the decades-old Western Sahara conflict.