On 18 March 2025, dozens of Saharawi refugee camp residents and members of Lkweidssat tribe held a protest at Rabouni camp (Tindouf, Tindouf) against the kidnapping of a Saharawi by a drug trafficking gang operating in Tindouf camps. The demonstration was sparked by the abduction of an 80-year-old man, held captive for over four months.

Summary

On March 18, 2025, Sahrawi refugees conducted peaceful protests in the Rabouni refugee camp in Tindouf Province, Algeria, against kidnapping incidents by drug trafficking organizations. This small-scale protest was triggered by the case of an 80-year-old man held captive for more than 4 months, with low direct supply-chain risk.

Supply-chain impact

• Tindouf Province is located in southwestern Algeria near the Morocco-Mali border and sits on the periphery of Sahara Desert logistics routes, but is distant from major commercial transport corridors
• Security instability in the Sahrawi refugee camp area is currently localized, but if drug trafficking activities expand, there is potential for indirect impact on cross-border transport in nearby areas
• Algeria's major gas and oil export infrastructure is concentrated in the northern and eastern regions, limiting direct correlation with the current event

Watch points

• Whether drug trafficking organization activities expand within Tindouf Province and security authorities' response measures
• Persistence and scale changes of protests in the Sahrawi refugee camp area, and potential for spread to nearby border regions