El Aaiun Wilaya, August 5, 2026 (SPS) – The Fifth Congress of the Union of Students of Saguia El Hamra and Rio de Oro (UESARIO) officially opened Wednesday afternoon in the Wilaya of El Aaiun, attended by the President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, along with members of the National Secretariat, the Government, the National Council, the General Staff of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army, and student delegations from various countries around the world.
The opening ceremony began with a minute of silence and the recitation of Al-Fatiha in memory of the martyrs of the national cause, followed by the national anthem. The Governor of El Aaiun Wilaya, Ghaouth Mamouni, then delivered a welcoming address on behalf of the authorities and residents of the wilaya, greeting the President of the Republic, the accompanying delegation, and the foreign student delegations participating in the congress. He affirmed the wilaya's commitment to ensuring the success of this important student gathering.
Mr. Mamouni added that the congress is taking place amid a highly complex international context, which, in his view, requires the student movement to fully appreciate the current circumstances and strengthen all fronts of the national struggle.
For his part, the outgoing UESARIO Secretary-General, Khlehen Ahmed El Ghazouani, speaking on behalf of the Preparatory Committee, reviewed the various stages of preparation for the congress since the committee's establishment.
He pointed out that the preparatory process took into account the current realities and challenges, focusing on every effort aimed at ensuring that Sahrawi students fully understand the responsibilities entrusted to them in both the liberation struggle and the nation-building process.
The Student Congress is the highest decision-making body of the UESARIO, responsible for adopting decisions and positions on major student-related issues. It also evaluates the period between two congresses, adopts the organization's national action programme, reviews its statutes in line with the UESARIO's specific needs and mission, and elects the Secretary-General as well as the Executive Bureau, which is entrusted with leading the organization for a four-year term.
The congress is held against the backdrop of significant developments and achievements, most notably the resumption of the armed struggle following Morocco's breach of the ceasefire agreement on 13 November 2020 and the subsequent return to direct confrontation with the occupying forces.
These developments place the student community before a major responsibility, making it essential for the congress to identify mechanisms and measures capable of keeping pace with these changes, particularly by supporting the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army with qualified human resources and skilled professionals capable of contributing to victory in the decisive national struggle.
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