Photo-Op Flop: Polisario Leader’s UN Stunt Backfires
A recent attempt by the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, to manufacture a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres has backfired spectacularly, sparking ridicule and highlighting the separatist group’s increasingly desperate tactics.
The incident unfolded when the Polisario’s media arm, the so-called “Sahrawi News Agency,” released a photo of Ghali with Guterres. The image, supposedly taken during Ghali’s participation in the 25th anniversary of the East Timor self-determination referendum, showed a stony-faced Guterres alongside a beaming Ghali.
However, eagle-eyed observers quickly noticed a glaring detail: a bed in the background. This seemingly innocuous detail revealed the truth behind the staged photo-op. The original, unedited image, which quickly circulated online, showed Ghali surprising Guterres in his hotel room for an impromptu photo session.
The Polisario’s clumsy attempt to portray a casual encounter with the UN chief as a formal meeting was met with widespread mockery on social media. Many users pointed out the irony of the situation, given the Polisario’s claims of representing a legitimate state.
This incident follows a string of similar embarrassments for the Polisario Front. In a particularly humiliating episode during the preparatory meetings for the TICAD summit in Japan, a Polisario representative was discovered attempting to infiltrate the Algerian delegation and was promptly ejected.
Adding insult to injury, Algerian media outlets, known for their unwavering support for the Polisario, rushed to publish the doctored photo, omitting any mention of the embarrassing circumstances surrounding it. These outlets claimed that Ghali and Guterres had discussed the latest developments in the Western Sahara and that Guterres had reiterated his commitment to resolving the conflict. However, they conveniently neglected to mention that these “discussions” took place in Guterres’ bedroom.
The Polisario’s propaganda machine also went into overdrive, claiming that Ghali had emphasized the importance of the MINURSO mission in monitoring human rights violations, protecting civilians, and preventing the plundering of natural resources. They argued that the Sahara falls under the direct responsibility of the United Nations. These assertions, however, stand in stark contrast to the reality on the ground and Morocco’s ongoing efforts to find a realistic and lasting solution to the manufactured conflict.
This latest PR debacle underscores the Polisario’s growing isolation on the international stage. As Morocco continues to gain support for its autonomy plan for the Western Sahara, the Polisario appears increasingly desperate to remain relevant, resorting to increasingly outlandish tactics to project an image of legitimacy.
