Lahbib Ould Mohamed Abdelaziz, the son of the late founder and historic leader of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz, tragically lost his life following a Moroccan drone attack in Western Sahara. This incident occurred while he was leading an operation against Morocco's military wall, marking a significant setback for the Polisario movement, as Abdelaziz was viewed as a potential successor to Brahim Gali, the current leader of the organization.
The death of Lahbib comes amidst an ongoing low-intensity conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco, coinciding with the arrival of a United Nations envoy in Tinduf, aimed at revitalizing the peace process. The Western Sahara conflict remains unresolved since the ceasefire collapse in 2020, with frequent skirmishes and cross-border attacks reported.
On Sunday, Lahbib Ould Mohamed Abdelaziz, aged 37, was killed along with two other unidentified Sahrawi fighters when a Moroccan drone struck their vehicle. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which Abdelaziz’s father led from 1976 until his death in May 2016, declared three days of mourning for the "martyrs in combat." The tragedy unfolded as Abdelaziz and his comrades were reportedly conducting an operation against the Moroccan military wall, as per statements from the Sahrawi news agency SPS.
At the time of the attack, the group was traversing a buffer zone, a desolate territory situated between Morocco's sand wall and Algeria, which serves as a vital ally to the Polisario. This area, known as the "liberated zone," comprises approximately 20% of Western Sahara, free from Moroccan military occupation. Salamu Hamudi, the Polisario representative in Spain, emphasized that the death of Lahbib Abdelaziz underscores the ongoing war, despite Morocco's reluctance to acknowledge the full extent of the conflict.
Morocco has not confirmed responsibility for the attack, and some state-affiliated media suggested the possibility that Abdelaziz's death was unrelated to his military activities, hinting at internal clan disputes within the Polisario. However, this narrative has been firmly rejected by representatives from Tinduf.
Lahbib Abdelaziz was heralded as a leading figure among a new generation of Sahrawi leaders who grew up in exile. His ascent within the Polisario was rapid; he joined the movement in 2011 after studying International Relations in Algeria and held various significant political and military roles. In 2024, he was appointed commander of the first campaign brigade of the Sahrawi armed forces and became a member of the National Secretariat, positioning him as a likely successor to Gali.
Reflecting on his legacy, Hamudi noted that Lahbib was surrounded by experienced leaders, yet his family background—being the son of a historic fighter—set him apart. His mother, Jadiya Hamdi, also served as a minister in the Sahrawi government, adding to the family's storied involvement in the struggle for Sahrawi independence.
Following his father's death, Lahbib adopted a low-profile approach in public life. Nonetheless, he re-emerged to support the Polisario's military stance against Morocco, especially after the ceasefire breakdown. His death comes just days after commemorating the tenth anniversary of his father's martyrdom and ahead of significant historical anniversaries for the Polisario.
Moreover, this tragic event coincides with renewed peace efforts led by the UN and the United States. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura recently arrived in Tinduf to revive peace negotiations based on Resolution 2797, which for the first time recognizes Morocco's autonomy proposal.
The conflict escalated dramatically in 2020 when Moroccan forces entered the demilitarized area of Guerguerat to dismantle a Sahrawi activist blockade. The Polisario viewed this as a violation of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, prompting a resumption of hostilities. The situation has since remained tense, with regular clashes occurring, the most recent being an incident in May where the Polisario announced an attack on a Moroccan military base, which was condemned by the United States.
Despite the ongoing violence and the loss of Lahbib Abdelaziz, the Polisario remains committed to maintaining the peace negotiation process with Morocco.
As reported by elespanol.com.
