The Spanish judiciary has summoned the Polisario Front Secretary-General, Brahim Ghali, after he was transferred to Spain for treatment after contracting coronavirus. The court had summoned him based on accusations of torture, rape, kidnapping and murder, after a complaint was filed by political activists. It is not clear if Ghali will be able to appear before the court due to his health situation.
The Spanish government confirmed that Ghali had entered Spain. Reports indicate that he used an Algerian passport with an alias to enter. His location was not disclosed but believed to be in a hospital in the city of Logroño, in the north of Spain.
Morocco objected against Spain allowing the Polisario's leader to enter its land. The Spanish Ambassador in Rabat was summoned to receive Morocco's complaints. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita warned the Spanish government not to sacrifice relations with Morocco because of Ghali's health.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry had stressed that Ghali had been "transferred to Spain for purely humanitarian reasons for medical treatment".
There is no progress yet in talks between Morocco and the Polisario.
