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The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) is deeply saddened by the passing of the President of Western Sahara, Comrade Mohamed Abdelaziz who died after a long illness.

President Abdelaziz was the Secretary General of POLISARIO FRENTE (Front), the Saharawi liberation movement fighting Morocco colonial occupation.

He will be remembered for leading Polisario Front in waging a relentless struggle for independence, freedom and justice for the Saharawi people.

He was a founding leader of Polisario Front and participated in the war of independence against General Franco’s Spanish colonialism in 1973-1975.

Our country is a beneficiary of Polisario Front strong relations and solidarity support to the ANC-led liberation movement in exile.

He was instrumental in equipping the ANC armed wing, Umkhonto weSizwe, with arms seized from Moroccan soldiers. These arms were an extension of South African fascist patronage to government of Morocco.

Both former ANC President Oliver Tambo and President Abdelaziz were comrades in arms who cemented brotherhood between their respective movements.

NEHAWU reiterates its solidarity support to the struggle of the people of Western Sahara, for independence, democracy and social justice and our heartfelt condolences to the Saharawi and Algerian people for a gigantic loss.

Issued by NEHAWU