Sahrawi National Archives الأرشيف الوطني الصحراوي Archivo Nacional Saharaui

Overview

The Sahrawi National Archives (Arabic: الأرشيف الوطني الصحراوي; Spanish: Archivo Nacional Saharaui) are the national archives of the Sahrawi people, maintained by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The archives are housed at Rabouni, the administrative center of the SADR government-in-exile in the Tindouf province of southwestern Algeria, where the Western Sahara government-in-exile and the Sahrawi refugee camp administration are located.

History and Context

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on 27 February 1976, following the end of Spanish colonial rule over Western Sahara and the subsequent conflict with Morocco and Mauritania. The refugee camps near Tindouf were established from 1975–76 to shelter Sahrawis who fled advancing Moroccan forces and have housed a significant Sahrawi population for over four decades.

The Sahrawi National Archives began with materials from the Archivo de Ministerio de Información of the SADR and grew to encompass approximately 17,500 microfilms. In November 2024, scholars from Seton Hall University — Assistant Dean of Special Collections Sarah Ponichtera and Professor Joseph Huddleston — traveled to Rabouni under the Modern Endangered Archives Program to survey the archives and develop plans for digitization to improve accessibility and protect the materials from loss.

Collections and Holdings

The archives hold approximately five decades of diplomatic and cultural history of the Sahrawi people, including documents, photographs, films, and personal correspondence. The collection documents the history of Western Sahara, colonization, the Polisario Front, SADR governance, and the ongoing struggle for self-determination. Given the SADR's limited infrastructure and isolation in the desert, materials face risks from environmental factors, limited digitization capacity, and lack of reliable internet connectivity.

Access

Physical access to the Sahrawi National Archives is challenging due to the remote location of the Tindouf refugee camps, security protocols, and the need for coordination with SADR authorities. Researchers have typically required institutional support and coordination with the SADR Ministry of Information to arrange visits.