Ahmed Sabbar – HIBAPRESS
Professor Sharqawi Rodani, an expert in strategic and security studies, provided an in-depth reading during the book signing of “Polisario and Iran: Terrorism from Tehran to Tindouf” by the Algerian writer Anouar Malek, during the book signing which was organized by the General Secretariat of the Front of Democratic Forces party, highlighting the scientific value of this work and the prospects it opens for understanding the security transformations witnessed by the region. Rodani spoke with a tone that combined firmness and calm analysis, stressing that the stakes of regional security no longer tolerate superficial approaches or impressionistic readings, but require a systematic research that starts from reliable data and solid scientific references.
The speaker focused on the importance of academic knowledge in dismantling emerging security phenomena, especially those related to geopolitical changes in which networks of influence have begun to intersect with armed groups and non-state actors, praising the testimonies and field data included in Anouar Malek's book that contribute to shedding light on the paths of rapprochement between Iran and the Polisario Front, and the resulting unconventional threats that go beyond the scope of the regional conflict. Rodani explained that the Iranian danger today takes multiple forms, starting with indirect support for separatist groups, passing through fueling conflicts through hybrid warfare tools, and reaching the attempt to penetrate the Maghreb region and fuel security fragility in the Sahel and West Africa, and stressed that these threats are not related to circumstantial contexts, but rather fall within a broader Iranian strategy that seeks to create permanent hotspots of tension in the North African environment. He considered that understanding these transformations requires a deeper strategic reading of what is happening in the region's environment, especially since the Sahel today is witnessing a complex overlap between cross-border terrorism, international competition, and separatist conflicts, and in this fragile environment, any Iranian penetration becomes a multiplier of risks, whether through logistical support or through networks of influence that work to destabilize. Professor Sharqawi Rodani concluded his intervention by emphasizing that confronting these challenges begins with cognitive fortification and the development of scientific research in security and defense issues, because effective strategies are built on knowledge before the decision, calling for strengthening regional and international cooperation to confront common threats, considering that sound academic work is the basic entry point for formulating effective security policies capable of protecting the stability of the region.
