Polisario Front Leadership Change: Khatri Addouh Takes Interim Control of Western Sahara Movement

Khatri Addouh is regaining the leadership of the Polisario and the presidency of the "SADR", reports Maghreb Intelligence. He had led these two entities from May 31 to July 12, 2016, following the death of Mohamed Abedlaziz. A member of the national secretariat of the Polisario Front, he served in the orientation department of the separatist movement. He has held several other positions: wali of Es Semara until August 2010, president of the Sahrawi National Council in 2010.

He is now leading the Polisario and the "SADR" after Brahim Ghali, 73, was urgently hospitalized in Logroño, near Saragossa, Spain, on April 21 under an Algerian alias. "The President of the ’SADR’ and Head of the [Polisario] Front is under medical care and observation for several days after contracting Covid. [...] We inform citizens that his condition is not worrying and that he is recovering," a presidency statement said.

The evacuation of Brahim Ghali to a hospital in Logroña is not to the liking of Morocco. The Moroccan authorities have denounced the disloyal attitude of Spain, and have also asked the Spanish ambassador in Rabat for explanations.