Morocco: Location of Tandouf; whether it is the same as Tindouf; location of Camp Fiking and living conditions in that camp
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MAR33584.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Morocco: Location of Tandouf; whether it is the same as Tindouf; location of Camp Fiking and living conditions in that camp, 10 January 2000, MAR33584.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad5b4c.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Only one reference could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate to a city called "Tandouf." This source, a 21 November 1998 MENA report, a Cairo-based wire service, quotes Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi as describing "the city of Tandouf, which is now in Algeria, as historically belonging to Morocco We approved the borders out of our desire for reconciliation with Algeria." He also said: "We suggested building a railroad between the city of (Tandouf) and the Atlantic Ocean to facilitate transport of iron wealth."
An 1997 article on the city of Tindouf published on a Website on North Africa states that:
At the present time, even getting near Tindouf, which lies 50 km north of the actual border between Mauritania and Algeria, is out of the question. Morocco, along with these two countries have made a zone with a variable radius of 200 to 600 km, inaccessible to foreigners, and heavily restricted even for nationals.
The reason for this situation is political, and connected to the politically unresolved conflict of Western Sahara, that was occupied by Morocco (and Mauritania, who left their part in 1979) in 1975. The army of Western Sahara, called Polisario, was for many years backed by Algeria, and have had their base in Tindouf. While there are no more fightings, the three countries are still far from agreeing on regulations on Western Sahara, and there will probably be years before travelling between Mauritania and Algeria can be done overland.
No mention of a place "called Camp Fiking" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Kjeilen, Tore. 1997. "Mauritania-Algeria Border: Tindouf."
MENA [Cairo, in Arabic]. 21 November 1998. "Morocco: Moroccan Premier Discusses
Mideast Peace, Algeria Ties." (FBIS-NES-98-325 21 Nov. 1998/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Internet sources, including:
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
