The city of Tindouf in Algeria, a stronghold of the Polisario Front, hosted a controversial meeting from January 4 to 7, 2025. The event brought together the separatist Polisario Front and a delegation from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
A Provocation to Ankara and Political Outrage
During the meeting, Turkey was accused of committing war crimes and violations, sparking outrage in Turkish public opinion. Photos of YPG members alongside Polisario leaders, holding flags and slogans advocating for Kurdish independence in Syria and Turkey, fueled the controversy.
This provoked widespread political anger in Turkey. Bahadır Nahit Yenişehirlioğlu, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), strongly condemned the meeting, stating:
“Algeria, which we considered a friendly nation, is now hosting Kurdish terrorists on its soil. I feel that the Ottoman Empire made a mistake when it sold Algeria to France. Without our Ottoman ancestors, Algerians would still be slaves to the Spanish.”
Historical Context and Political Missteps
Analysts believe the meeting reflects Algeria’s diplomatic confusion. Historically, Algeria was under Ottoman protection from 1519, when the Algerians sought assistance from Khayr al-Din Barbarossa to liberate them from Spanish occupation, until the French invasion in 1830.
Today, however, Algeria appears to be making strategic missteps, either in its failed attempts to reconcile with Bashar al-Assad’s regime—which recently rejected a visit by Algeria’s foreign minister—or due to the growing influence of the Polisario Front over Algerian state decisions.
Two Theories Behind Algeria’s Miscalculation
- Failed Reconciliation with Syria
Algeria’s invitation to the YPG in Tindouf might be a response to Damascus’s refusal to host its foreign minister, reflecting erratic decision-making in Algerian diplomacy. - Polisario’s Influence Over Algeria
Some analysts suggest the Polisario has gained significant
