Lawyers Club Launches Free Legal Line for Sahrawis
A new confidential service will help Sahrawis in Tindouf camps seek legal advice on returning to Morocco.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Immigration
The Moroccan Lawyers Club launched the Return Line, a free and confidential legal service for Sahrawis seeking to return to Morocco from the Tindouf camps. The service is expected to become operational on November 16, 2026.
Why it matters
Algeria restricts residents from leaving the Tindouf camps and has refused to allow registration of those living there despite UN resolutions urging a census. The initiative offers a legal pathway for people who want to return but face obstacles in doing so.
The Tindouf camp population is estimated at about 90,000, with a claimed 20 percent Sahrawi and 80 percent from other communities. Because Algeria has blocked registration, these figures cannot be independently verified.
The players
Moroccan Lawyers Club
A Moroccan legal organization that launched the Return Line to offer free legal guidance to Sahrawis seeking to return from the Tindouf camps.
Polisario Front
The political movement advocating Sahrawi independence in Western Sahara, which has been the subject of proposed U.S. congressional designation as a terrorist group.
King Mohammed VI
The reigning monarch of Morocco, who publicly appealed to Sahrawis in Tindouf to return to Morocco on October 31, 2025.
The details
Interested individuals submit preliminary information and are then contacted by an assigned lawyer, with communication conducted through encrypted messaging apps including Telegram in several languages. The initiative gives priority to women living alone, children, the elderly, the sick, and persons with disabilities.
Timeline
October 27, 2025: UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2797.
October 31, 2025: King Mohammed VI appealed to Sahrawis in Tindouf to return to Morocco.
November 6, 2026: Moroccan Lawyers Club launched the Return Line.
November 16, 2026: The Return Line service becomes operational.
Political Context
The launch follows UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted October 27, 2025, and King Mohammed VI's appeal four days later. Together these steps extend the diplomatic push over Western Sahara into practical legal help for camp residents.
Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps who want to return to Morocco can submit preliminary information to receive a free, confidential consultation with an assigned lawyer once the service opens. Priority is given to women living alone, children, the elderly, the sick, and people with disabilities.
The takeaway
A legal pathway now exists for people in the Tindouf camps who want to return but have faced obstacles, and its practical reach will depend on whether Algeria allows residents to act on it.
What happens next
The Return Line is scheduled to become operational on November 16, 2026, when Sahrawis can begin contacting assigned lawyers for legal guidance.
Further reading
For broader background on migration and displacement policy, explore our Immigration coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Morocco World News.
