13th Congress of the Polisario Front
15–22 December 2011
Secretary-General election
20 December 2011
Registered2,095 Congressmembers
Turnout77.42%
 
Candidate Mohamed Abdelaziz
Electoral vote 1,551
Percentage 97.55%
Diagram showing how Congressmembers voted for the Secretary-General.
Secretary-General before election

Mohamed Abdelaziz
Polisario Front

 Secretary-General-elect

Mohamed Abdelaziz
Polisario Front

The 13th Congress of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia El Hamra and Río de Oro (Arabic: المؤتمر الثالث عشر للجبهة الشعبية لتحرير الساقية الحمراء ووادي الذهب, Spanish: XIII Congreso del Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia El Hamra y Río de Oro) was held in Tifariti between 15 and 22 December 2011 to renovate the governing bodies of the Polisario Front and establish the movement's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term.[1]

The Congress was also used to elect a new Secretary-General for the Polisario Front, which would automatically become the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Incumbent Mohamed Abdelaziz was easily re-elected for his 11th term.[2]

The Congress' slogan is "The independent Sahrawi state is the solution" (Arabic: الدولة الصحراوية المستقلة هي الحل, Spanish: Un Estado saharaui independiente es la solución). The Congress was also named after Mahfoud Ali Beiba, a late former Sahrawi Prime Minister.[3]

Background

The Congress was held a year after the Gdeim Izik protest camp and amid the context of the Arab Spring and the instability in the Sahara region. The Congress was also marked by the kidnapping of two Spaniard and one Italian international cooperants from the Sahrawi refugee camps in October 2011, which led to increased security measures.[4]

International presence

Several foreign political parties participated in the 13th Congress. The Congress included the participation of around 300 foreign participants. Some of the countries included are: Algeria, Mauritania, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Ukraine, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, Cuba, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Timor-Leste, Russia, Venezuela, Brazil; apart from unspecified delegations from Asia; the European Parliament and a Moroccan journalist.[5]

Results

Secretary-General

Polls opened on 20 December 2011 at 18:30 PM local time. 17 offices were allocated for voting by the Election Committee, each with around 150 voters. Incumbent Mohamed Abdelaziz was the only candidate for Secretary-General.[6]

Abdelaziz was re-elected as Secretary-General of the Polisario Front and President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic for a three-year term. 1,622 Congressmembers out of 2,095 registered cast a vote; 1,590 votes were valid while 32 votes were considered invalid. Abdelaziz received 1,551 votes (98%). The Electoral Commission pointed out that the election process went smoothly, indicating that they recorded some minor problems such as “non-conformity” in the names of some voters in the lists, without significantly affecting the electoral process.[2]

CandidateVotes%
Mohamed Abdelaziz1,55197.55
Blank votes392.45
Total1,590100.00
Valid votes1,59098.03
Invalid/blank votes321.97
Total votes1,622100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,09577.42
Source: Sahara Press Service[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Opening of works of the Polisario Front´s Thirteenth Congress". 15 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Sahara Press Service.
  2. 1 2 3 "Re-election of Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz as secretary general of the Frente Polisario". 21 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Sahara Press Service.
  3. ↑ ""Independent Saharawi state is the solution," theme of Polisario Front next congress". 13 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Sahara Press Service.
  4. ↑ "El Polisario se renueva en un congreso marcado por la inseguridad en el Sáhara" [The Polisario renews itself in a congress marked by insecurity in the Sahara] (in Spanish). 18 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Cadena SER.
  5. ↑ "President of Republic receives foreign delegations taking part at Polisario Front congress". 17 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Sahara Press Service.
  6. ↑ "Launch of election of the Polisario's Secretary General". 20 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023 – via Sahara Press Service.
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