Tragic Loss for the Polisario Front
In a recent military action near the separation wall in Western Sahara, at least three members of the Polisario Front have tragically lost their lives. Among the deceased is Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, a significant figure within the organization and the son of late Sahrawi president Mohamed Abdelaziz. The Sahrawi presidency has officially announced a national three-day mourning period in response to this shocking event.
Reports indicate that the attack resulted in the deaths of Abdelaziz, aged 37, and two other members of the Polisario Front. The information has been corroborated by the Sahrawi news agency, SPS. Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz was born in 1989 in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. He studied in Algeria and joined the Polisario Front forces in 2011, eventually rising to the rank of field brigade commander before being appointed to the National Secretariat in 2024.
International Reactions and Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
To date, Moroccan authorities have not issued any statements regarding the incident, and specific details surrounding the death of the son of the historical leader of the Polisario Front remain scarce. Mohamed Abdelaziz, who served as the secretary-general of the organization from 1976 until his death in 2016, held the presidency of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD) for 24 years. He was succeeded by Brahim Ghali.
This tragic event comes amid a visit by the United Nations Secretary General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, who recently arrived at the refugee camps as part of a diplomatic tour. Although further details regarding this visit are yet to emerge, it underscores the ongoing international attention on the Western Sahara conflict.
In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May, Ghali defended the actions of the Polisario Front against Moroccan bases in occupied Western Sahara, asserting that these acts amounted to legitimate self-defense following the breakdown of the 1991 ceasefire agreement in November 2020.
Over recent years, the Polisario Front has faced significant diplomatic setbacks, particularly as international support for Morocco's autonomy plan has increased, with backing from countries like Spain and France. The RASD has firmly rejected this proposal, emphasizing that Madrid remains the 'de jure' administering power of the territory, which is still awaiting decolonization.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite fierce resistance from the Polisario Front, which engaged in conflict until a ceasefire was reached in 1991, aimed at conducting a self-determination referendum. However, disputes over census details and the inclusion of Moroccan settlers have thus far prevented the referendum from taking place.
As reported by abc.es.
