Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would require the U.S. government to label the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization if it is found to be working with groups linked to Iran. The Polisario Front is a rebel group active in North Africa that has been involved in a long-running conflict over the Western Sahara region.
• If the Secretary of State finds evidence of cooperation, the group would face strict sanctions. This would include blocking any property they have in the United States and making it illegal for Americans to provide them with any money, weapons, or support.
• Lawmakers are specifically looking for evidence that the group received weapons, drones, or military intelligence from Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah. The goal is to prevent Iran from expanding its military influence into new parts of Africa.
• The State Department would be required to look back at the last 10 years of the group's activities. If a connection to Iranian-linked terrorists is confirmed, the President would have 30 days to officially apply the terrorist designation and sanctions.

Impact Analysis

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