Name of leader Mohammed Abdelaziz
Organization Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro (POLISARIO)
English Translation Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro
Popular Org. Name Polisario Front
Conflict Country Morocco
Gender Male
Year of Birth 1947/1948 [1]
Place of Birth Marrakech, Morocco or Semara, Spanish Sahara [now Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara][2]
Year of Death 2016 [3]
Deceased
Yes, he died in 2016 of natural causes.
Birth order
His birth order is unknown.
Age at start of rebel leadership
He became Secretary General of Polisario in 1976, which would have made him 29 years old.[4]
Leader entry method
He was likely elected since he was later reelected as secretary general.[5]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“In the early 1960s he did his primary and secondary schooling in Smara and Bou Izakarn. By the late 1960s he had moved to Casablanca and then Rabat, where he continued his university undergraduate education at Mohamed V University.”[6]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, he was married.[7]
Children
Yes, he had children.[8]
Religious identification
He was Muslim.
Family background
Yes, his father was a member of the royal advisory council for Saharan Affairs[9]
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
No, there is no evidence of political affiliations.
Physical and mental health
No, there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He was an activist.[10]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a state military.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No, there is no evidence he held a government position.
Lived in exile?
Yes, his exiled SADR government was based in Tindouf, Algeria.[11]
Study abroad?
No, there is no evidence he studied abroad.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No, there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No, there is no evidence he served time in prison.
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt by the state.
Cause of Death?
He died of natural causes.[12]
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He likely speaks Arabic as his primary language and he also speaks French. [13]
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Mohamed_Abdelaziz%2C_2005.jpg
[1] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[2] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[3] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[4] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[5] “Morocco: Polisario Front - Mohamed Abdelaziz Re-Elected Secretary General By Overwhelming Majority,” allAfrica, December 23, 2015, Accessed May 16, 2018, http://allafrica.com/stories/201512240529.html.
[6] “ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, Muhammad,” Oxford Reference, 2011, Accessed May 16, 2018, http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-0010?rskey=pdcfp3&result=1.
[7] “Mohamed Abdelaziz obituary,” The Guardian, June 6, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/W/2016/jun/06/mohamed-abdelaziz-obituary#img-1.
[8] “Situation of the Sahrawi youth-Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz, Saharawi Student Union member,” YouTube, September 14, 2011, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JYr4NeeP9o.
[9] Western Sahara A Spy Guide (Washington: International Business Publications, 2013), 31.
[10] “ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, Muhammad,” Oxford Reference, 2011, Accessed May 16, 2018, http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-0010?rskey=pdcfp3&result=1.
[11] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[12] Melinda C. Shepherd, “Mohammed Abdelaziz,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 8, 2016, Accessed May 16, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammed-Abdelaziz.
[13] Western Sahara A Spy Guide (Washington: International Business Publications, 2013), 31.