In a statement, made public, the Office of the Moroccan Coordination with MINURSO indicates that the exchange operation of family visits, led by the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) between the Kingdom’s southern provinces and Tindouf camps in southern Algeria, continued Monday, by the organization of the 33rd trip in 2011.  

The abduction of three European aid workers in in Tindouf camps by al-Qaida in the Islamic  Maghreb (AQIM), with the proven help of Polisario elements, stresses "the urgency" to find a definitive solution to the Sahara issue, stressed participants in a conference Wednesday under the theme: "The impact of the fall of Gaddafi on Security in the Maghreb and the Sahel," by "The Atlantic Council", a prestigious think-tank based in Washington.

The Malian newspaper “L'aube” (Independent) which devoted its last issue to the case of the abduction that took place in the Polisario camp said that "the abduction was done by members from Polisario who have benefited from complicity to act and who intend to monetize the three hostages to AQIM. "

Morocco, which presented an autonomy plan to settle the Sahara issue under its sovereignty, was reinforced in its position following the recent developments in the North African region, says the British think-tank the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

According to an Italian newspaper, the leader of the kidnappers is a former Polisario member

The kidnappers, European nationals "certainly knew the situation in the camp (where the kidnapping took place) and acted, certainly, without fearing the reaction of the Polisario guards or possible chase in the desert," said the Italian daily "l'Unione Sarda"in an article on the issue.