Citing Sahrawi political and human rights milieus in Tindouf camps, southwest Algeria and in Morocco, the Arabic-speaking paper spoke of a "possible change at the Polisario leadership hierarchy."
The daily deemed that "postponing the Polisario congress, which was slated for more than a month ago, confirms this information," noting it also shows "the existence of divergences within the Polisario notably following the latest developments in the Sahara issue."
The movement lays claims to Morocco's southern provinces, the Sahara, which the north African kingdom retrieved in 1976 under the Madrid accords with Spain (former colonial power) and Mauritania.
The imminent ousting of the Polisario chief is part of the "changes that occurred at the Non-Aligned Movement conference, held lately in Havana, which adopted a document presented by the Cuban presidency urging for a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Sahara conflict,” wrote the paper.
Asharq Al Awsat also reported that the Spanish journalist David El Pardo, who follows the situation within Polisario, affirmed “it seems that Algeria currently wishes changes in the Polisario hierarchy,” adding: “several names are currently circulating to succeed Abdelaziz.”
“If this change occurs suddenly, it will constitute a great upheaval due to the fact that Abdelaziz has been in this post for over three decades,” said the Spanish journalist cited by “Asharq Al Awsat.”