The Polisario has replaced its representative in Algeria, removing Abdelkader Taleb Omar and appointing Khatri Adouh, a hardline figure close to Brahim Ghali.
The move comes amid growing internal tensions and international setbacks for the separatist movement. Adouh, a longtime member of the inner circle, had previously represented the front at the UN-led Geneva talks in 2018–2019.
Taleb Omar, despite his influence, has been reassigned to the role of education minister, in what many see as a demotion.
The shuffle exposes fractures within the polisario’s leadership, particularly between more pragmatic voices like Taleb and Ghali’s increasingly rigid faction.
It follows the replacement of the group’s “foreign minister” last month, reflecting a broader push by hardliners to consolidate control in the face of mounting diplomatic pressure.
Observers suggest Algeria may be orchestrating these changes as the polisario faces unprecedented international isolation.
Morocco’s autonomy initiative continues to gain ground across Africa, Latin America, and Europe, leaving the separatist group politically cornered.
The reshuffle is seen as an attempt by Ghali’s faction to reassert ideological control and respond to growing discontent among Sahrawis, both in the Tindouf camps and abroad.
Taleb Omar’s sidelining is viewed not just as an internal power play but as a message of the front’s doubling down.
Rather than adapting to the changing international climate, the polisario appears to be retreating into its old guard, alienating moderate voices and accelerating its loss of relevance on the global stage.
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