# 17th Government of the Sahrawi Republic

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.

## Council of Ministers

Council of Ministers of the 17th Government of the Sahrawi Republic :
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
| Prime Minister | Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Mohamed Sidati | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Interior | Mariam Salek Hmada | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | 14 April 2024 |
| Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs | Mohamed Embarek Ahmed (Naanaa) | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Education, Teaching and Vocational Training | Khatri Addouh | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Public Health | Salek Baba Hasanna | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Occupied Territories and the Diaspora | Mustafa Mohamed Ali Sid-el-Bachir | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Information | Hamada Salma | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Water and Environment | Adda Brahim Hmeim | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Transport and Energy | Salek Mohamed Embarek Mohamed Fadel | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Construction and Reconstruction of the Liberated Territories | Salem Sidbrahim Lebsir | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | Hasanito Mohamed Ashabalel | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Personnel, Public Service and Administration Promotion | Mohamed Al-Mami Tamek | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Culture | Musa Salma | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Women's Empowerment | Suelma Beiruk | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Commerce | Ahmed Bachar Ammi Omar | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Economic Development | Baba Ahmed Mohamed Yahdih Afdeid | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Cooperation | Fatma Chej Mehdi | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| National Director of the Protocol | Bulahi Mohamed Fadel Siyed | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Delegate Minister charged with Religious Affairs | Sidahmed Aleyat Hamma | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Delegate Minister charged with the Control, Supervision and Protection of Public Property, and Relations with Parliament | Fadali Ali Buya | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Delegate Minister charged with Vocational Training | Maddi Hayay | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |
| Secretary General of the Presidency | Mohamed Chej Mohamed Lehbib | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |

## 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 |
| Governor of the Chahid El-Hafed Administrative and Political Unit | Daf Mohamed Fadel | Polisario | 14 February 2023 | Incumbent |