The media in neighboring countries have praised the striking silence of Pedro Sánchez's government regarding the assassination of Lahbib Abdelaziz, the leader of the Polisario Front and son of Mohamed Abdelaziz, who was a historic figure leading the Sahrawi organization from 1976 to 2016. This organization advocates for the independence of Western Sahara. Abdelaziz was killed alongside two other members of the movement in a drone operation executed by Morocco, an act that the socialist administration has yet to condemn, further entrenching its position as increasingly beholden to the regime of Mohammed VI. This silence aligns perfectly with the Spanish government's decision to hand over the Sahara to Morocco in 2022.
There have been ample opportunities for the Spanish government to denounce this attack, yet responses remain muted. For instance, Elma Saiz, the government spokesperson and Minister of Social Security and Migration, was asked about the incident and deflected the question by stating, "We have not yet received any official information on this matter. Caution is necessary in all cases." This evasive approach raises questions about the administration's accountability when it comes to international conflicts involving the Sahrawi people.
Meanwhile, the newspaper El Mundo has disclosed that Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has instructed his close aides at the Ministry to maintain absolute silence regarding this Moroccan attack. As a result, there will be no public condemnation or official explanations clarifying the Spanish government's stance on the issue. A source from the Spanish diplomatic service, who spoke anonymously, revealed to El Mundo that "the departments involved were prepared to formulate context and Spain's position, but the order has been to remain silent." This strategy contrasts sharply with the vocal reactions to similar incidents elsewhere.
In stark opposition, the Polisario Front has criticized the socialist government for its failure to take a stand on the latest conflict in Western Sahara. In a statement, the Polisario representative in Spain denounced what they perceive as an uneven application of foreign policy criteria, lamenting the absence of official statements from Sánchez's government when the victims are Sahrawi. This situation exposes the hypocrisy of the government and Minister Albares, who has not hesitated to condemn other recent attacks. Titles from the last three communications issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlight Spain's condemnation of violence, including the breach of the ceasefire in the Middle East and attacks against peacekeepers in Lebanon, revealing a double standard in the government's responses.
As reported by libertaddigital.com.
