Mohamed Abdelaziz

Mohamed Abdelaziz (born 1947, in Morocco) was one of the initial leaders in the mid-1970's of Polisario, a nationalist movement and political party in Western Sahara. He was elected Secretary-General of the party in 1976, upon the death of El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed and was responsible for helping to draft the constitution of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Since the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, he has been elected to the presidency of the SADR - a parliamentary government representing the people of Western Sahara, Sahrawis. He has served as president since 1982. He lives in exile in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria.

Related Topics:
1947 - Morocco - Polisario - Nationalist - Political party - Western Sahara - El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed - Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic - Occupation - Presidency - Sahrawi - 1982 - Tindouf - Algeria

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He is considered a secular nationalist and has steered the SADR towards greater moderation and openness to political compromise, notably in backing the United Nations' Baker Plan in 2003. Under his leadership, Polisario also abandoned its early moderately socialist orientation, in favor of a Western Sahara organized along liberal democratic lines, including expressly committing it to multi-party democracy and a market economy. He has consistently sought backing from Western states, notably the United States of America and the European Union, but so far with little success.

Related Topics:
Secular - United Nations - Baker Plan - 2003 - Socialist - Liberal democratic - Democracy - Market economy - Western states - United States of America - European Union

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There is some criticism against him from within the Polisario for preventing reforms inside the movement, and for insisting on a diplomatic course that has so far gained few concessions from Morocco, rather than re-launching the armed struggle favored by most Sahrawis.

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He has consistently condemned terrorism, insisting the Polisario's guerilla war was to be a "clean struggle" (that is, not targeting private citizens' safety or property). He sent formal condolences to the afflicted governments after the terrorist attacks in New York City, Madrid, London and notably also to the Moroccan kingdom after the al-Qaida strikes in Casablanca.

Related Topics:
Terrorism - Guerilla - New York City - Madrid - London - Al-Qaida - Casablanca

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