The 17th Government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was announced by President Brahim Ghali on 14 February 2023, after he won re-election in the 2023 Sahrawi presidential election held during the 16th Congress of the POLISARIO Front. It is headed by Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun as Prime Minister, with this being his second consecutive term and his fourth overall.
The government only has three women members out of seventeen ministers and twenty-two cabinet members. Mariam Salek Hmada became the first woman to serve as Minister of the Interior in the SADR and second in the Arab world after Raya El Hassan, who was Minister of Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon between 2019 and 2020.
On 18 February 2023, the newly-appointed ministers took their constitutional oath on the first session of the Council of Ministers.
Background The government was formed after Brahim Ghali won a third term in the 2023 Sahrawi presidential election held during the 16th Congress of the POLISARIO Front, an election in which he faced a competitive candidate, Bachir Mustafa Sayed.
The government is legally complied to apply the National Action Program approved by the 16th Congress, which included "intensifying the armed struggle" and "strengthening the diplomatic way" as one of its points.
The government is the first one to start its mandate in a war situation since 1991, after the ceasefire was broken in 2020, leading to the Second Western Sahara War.
Cabinet changes Naama Said Yumani, Minister Advisor to the Presidency, died on 17 August 2023. Brahim Al-Bachir Bel-la replaced Mariam Salek Ahmada as Minister of the Interior on 14 April 2024. Mohamed Yeslem Beissat replaced Mohamed Sidati as Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Affairs on 12 April 2025 after the latter's appointment as Representative of the Polisario Front to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Council of Ministers
Presidency of the Republic +Presidency of the Republic of the 17th Government of the Sahrawi Republic Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Minister Advisor to the Presidency Mohamed Lamin Buhali Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Minister Advisor to the Presidency in charge of Diplomatic Affairs Mohamed Salem Uld Salek Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Minister Advisor to the Presidency in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs Mohamed Mouloud Mohamed Fadel Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Minister Advisor to the Presidency Naama Said Yumani Polisario 14 February 2023 17 August 2023 Advisor to the Presidency in charge of Media and the Arab World Nana Labat Rachid Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Advisor to the Presidency Abdati Breika Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Secretary General of the Presidency Sidi Okal Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Director of the Strategic Studies Center Brahim Mohamed Mahmoud Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Deputy Director of the Strategic Studies Center Mohamed Sid Ahmed Allal Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Director of the President's Office Mohamed Mouloud Mohamed Lamin Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Adviser to the Presidency for Political Affairs Baddi Sidi Mohamed Abheya Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Adviser to the Presidency for Social Affairs Sidi Ahmed Baba Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Ambassador Director of Protocol at the Presidency Salha Al-Abed Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent
Governors +Governors in the 17th Government of the Sahrawi Republic Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Governor of El Aaiún Gauz Mamuni Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Governor of Auserd Jira Bulahi Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Governor of Smara Al-Izza Babeh Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Governor of Dajla Abda Chej Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Governor of Bojador Deih Mohamed Chadad Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent Daf Mohamed Fadel Polisario 14 February 2023 Incumbent
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