Khatri Addouh (Arabic: خطري أدوه; born 1954[citation needed]) is a Sahrawi politician, currently holds the position of the Minister of Education and Vocational Training in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Previously, he served as the president of the Sahrawi National Council from 2010 to 2020. Following the passing of the long-time president, Mohamed Abdelaziz, on 31 May 2016, Addouh was appointed as the acting president and the Secretary General of the Polisario Front.[1][2][3]

Khatri Addouh
خطري أدوه
Addouh in 2012
Minister of Education and Vocational Training
Assumed office
14 February 2023
President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Acting
In office
31 May 2016 – 12 July 2016
PremierAbdelkader Taleb Omar
Preceded byMohamed Abdelaziz
Succeeded byBrahim Ghali
President of the Sahrawi National Council
In office
10 July 2010 – 16 March 2020
Preceded byMahfoud Ali Beiba
Succeeded byHamma Salama
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)[citation needed]
Smara,[citation needed] Spanish Sahara
Political partyPolisario Front

Career

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Addouh is a member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front. He served in the Polisario Front Orientation Department. He also served as the Wali of Es Semara till August 2010. He became the President of the Sahrawi National Council on 10 July 2010. He replaced Mahfoud Ali Beiba, whose death was attributed by SADR to a heart attack, while Moroccan media claimed that Beiba was assassinated to make way for Addouh.[4][5]

He was subsequently re-elected to the same post on 24 February 2014 and then again for a third term on 19 March 2016. Addouh became the acting president when Mohamed Abedlaziz, who was the president for 40 years since 1976 died on 31 May 2016. Addouh convened the 2300 strong delegate council at Dakhla, which elected Brahim Ghali as the new president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.[6]

Addouh also heads the negotiating team of the Polisario Front in various international organisations. Addouh and his loyalists are working towards gaining an observer status at the United Nations, which will enable the Polisario Front government to stake claim as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people.[7][8]

In January 2022, Addouh met with Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Secretary‑General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, at the resumption of peace talks.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "M. Khatri Addouh, président du Conseil national sahraoui : " Maintenir la Minurso pour garantir notre droit à l'autodétermination "". El Moudjahid. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Death of Sahrawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz: Polisario Front declares 40-day mourning". SPS. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  3. ^ Cornwell, G. H., "Africa's Last Colony: Algeria's Polisario Front and the Western Sahara" Archived 2016-06-14 at the Wayback Machine, Foreign Affairs, June 12, 2016.
  4. ^ "The succession of Ali Beiba reveals the real reason behind his assassination". Polisario Confidential. 18 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. ^ "The President nominates the new Wali of Es Semara (ARCHIVE)" (PDF). SPS. 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Khatri Addouh re-elected as head of new Sahrawi National Council". Algeria Press Service. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Growing international recognition of Western Sahara offers new hope for Africa's Last Colony". Ceasefire Magazine. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Morocco: Ban Ki-Moon's Visit, Strong Message to Morocco, Says Sahrawi Official". All Africa. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  9. ^ "UN should seek peaceful settlement based on failure of past approaches". Sahara Press Service. 2022-01-16. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
Political offices
Preceded by President of the Sahrawi Republic
Acting

2016
Succeeded by