Top Polisario official returns to Morocco
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/1/2005

Hammatti Rabbani, a top Polisario official, returned Thursday to Morocco, fleeing Tindouf camps that have been witnessing for a week now unprecedented protests despite the violent repression.

Rabbani, 51, whose real name is Mohamed Abdelkader Ould Cheikh Abdelaaziz Ould Rabbani, occupied various posts in the Polisario and its self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic 'SADR'.

He was twice Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs (1986-88 and 1995-98).

The Polisario is an Algeria-backed guerrilla movement claiming the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under Madrid accords.

Rabbani, who is from Tengha tribe that joined the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps in 1975, was also "General Secretary of the Interior ministry" (in 2000) and responsible of the so-called Polisario "Jaliyate" (communities) in Mauritania (in 1985 and 1999).

He was also appointed "National Secretary" of the Polisario (new commanding body that substituted the 'executive committee' and the 'political bureau'). Besides, he was Wali (governor) of "Aousserd" camp (in 1992) for two years and Wali of "Dakhla" (in 1994) for two years.

Rabbani is the son of Cheikh Abdelaziz Ould Rabbani, a judge in Dakhla and a charismatic figure that is highly-esteemed by the population in southern provinces. He is also a relative of Ahmed Boukhari, current representative of "Polisario" in New York. He worked in the realm of education and occupied several political and military jobs.

He took part in the popular uprising that took place in 1988 in Tindouf camps, after which he was moved aside by the 'Polisario' leadership.

In October 2003, he was appointed "minister delegate of the Prime Minister in charge of the National Direction of Control and Inspection," a post that he occupied until his return to Morocco last Thursday.

The mother of Hammatti Rabbani, Bnatta Bent El Mami, is from the prominent tribe of Oulad Dlim. His brother, late Mohamed Abderrahman Rabbani, was an eminent poet and author of several books on the 'Moroccanity' of the Sahara and on the bonds of allegiance between the populations of southern provinces and the Alawite dynasty.

Previous Stories:
  Algerian NGO delegation to visit IER   (6/30/2005)
  NGO calls for probe into death of young Sahrawi   (6/30/2005)
  Intifadah in 'Polisario' Aousserd camp unveils inhabitants 'enough is enough' sentiment   (6/29/2005)

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