Mohamed Abdel Aziz, the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, died today. It is an enormous loss, not only for the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi people but also for all the staunch defenders of human rights and the principle of self-determination of peoples throughout the world.

The Party of the European Left wishes to express its condolences to his family and to the Polisario Front, which, with Mohamed Abdel Aziz as President, has fervently fought, expressing to all the international community its right to become an independent nation.

We respect and share the 40-day period of mourning that has been declared in the Sahara. The Party of the European Left will continue working for an unconditional acceptance of the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi people and will claim this right in all areas of influence.