A senior U.S. diplomat has held talks with representatives of the Polisario Front, the group seeking independence for Western Sahara, according to verified reports. The discussions, which took place in late March 2026, focused on the humanitarian situation in the long-standing refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the meeting, stating it was part of ongoing diplomatic engagement to address the welfare of Sahrawi refugees. Officials emphasized the need for improved access for humanitarian aid and a sustainable political solution to the decades-long conflict over the territory.
The visit comes amid international scrutiny of conditions in the camps, which house refugees who fled the conflict that began when Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement, but a referendum on self-determination has been stalled for years.
Analysts note that while the U.S. maintains support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the region, it also engages with the Polisario on humanitarian grounds. The meeting did not signal a change in U.S. policy but highlighted continued concerns over the protracted refugee crisis.
