Smara (Refugee Camps) - Late leader and diplomat M'hamed Kheddad, who passed away in early April, was buried in a cemetery in the wilaya of Smara, refugee camps.
The funeral ceremony took place in the presence of President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, members of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, the Government, the Sahrawi National Council, Advisory Council, as well as members of friendly foreign delegations and a large crowd.
The body of late M’hamed Kheddad arrived at Tindouf airport on Saturday on a special flight from Madrid, Spain.
M'hamed Kheddad died on 1 April in Spain after a long illness, but the global health situation induced by the Covid-19 pandemic did not allow the repatriation of his remains to Sahrawi refugee camps.
Following the death of M'hamed Kheddad, the Presidency of the Republic declared a week-long national mourning and set up a committee in charge of his funeral.
The deceased held several positions, including in Sahrawi institutions, abroad and in embassies and diplomatic missions.
He played a central role in the process of resolving the conflict in Western Sahara under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union as coordinator with the MINURSO, head and member of the Saharawi negotiating delegation.
He also played a key and fundamental role in the legal battle waged by the Polisario Front, particularly on the European scene. (SPS)
062/SPS/T