In a devastating incident reported by the Sahrawi Presidency, at least three members of the Polisario Front have been killed in an attack orchestrated by Moroccan forces near the separation wall in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), also known as Western Sahara. Among the deceased is Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, a prominent member of the group's National Secretariat and the son of the late former Sahrawi president, Mohamed Abdelaziz. In response to this tragic event, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has declared three days of national mourning, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the conflict.
According to the Sahrawi news agency SPS, the attack resulted in the deaths of Abdelaziz and two fellow members of the Polisario Front during a military engagement in the region. Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, aged 37, was born in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria in 1989. He pursued his education in Algeria and joined the ranks of the Polisario Front forces in 2011, eventually becoming a member of the National Secretariat in 2024. His lineage and leadership potential positioned him as a significant figure within the movement, especially following the death of his father, who led the Polisario Front for several decades.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Moroccan authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack. However, reports from the outlet Le Desk suggest that Abdelaziz's death may have resulted from a drone strike carried out by the Moroccan Armed Forces. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, where the Polisario Front has been fighting for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people against Moroccan occupation.
The confirmation of Abdelaziz's death coincided with a visit from Staffan de Mistura, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara. Arriving at the Sahrawi refugee camps on Sunday, de Mistura engaged with key figures including Foreign Minister Mohamed Yislem Beisat and UN representative Sidi Mohamed Omar. Discussions reportedly centered around the UN's ongoing efforts to secure a just and transparent solution that upholds the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres earlier this year, Sahrawi leader Brahim Ghali defended the Polisario Front's military actions against Moroccan bases in occupied Western Sahara, framing them as legitimate self-defense following the collapse of the 1991 ceasefire agreement in November 2020. The Polisario Front has faced increasing diplomatic challenges in recent years, particularly as international support has shifted towards Morocco's autonomy plan for the region, which has garnered backing from influential nations such as Spain and France. This proposal has been staunchly rejected by the SADR, which maintains that Spain remains the de jure administering power of the territory, pending its decolonization.
The history of Western Sahara is marked by conflict, beginning with Morocco's occupation of the former Spanish colony in 1975. Despite enduring resistance from the Polisario Front and a protracted war that lasted until a ceasefire in 1991, the promised self-determination referendum has yet to materialize due to disputes over the electoral process and the status of Moroccan settlers in the region. The recent events highlight the ongoing strife and the urgent need for a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict, as the Polisario Front has issued warnings against any imposed solutions that disregard the rights and aspirations of the Sahrawi people.
As reported by orinocotribune.com.
