Bir Lehlou (Sahrawi Republic), June 13, 2026 (SPS) – The President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario, Brahim Ghali, has expressed his condolences to the family of the renowned internationalist activist and steadfast friend of the Sahrawi people, Jean Ziegler, who passed away in Switzerland.
In his message of condolence, President Ghali expressed his “deep sorrow at the passing of this great humanitarian and intellectual figure, who dedicated his life to defending justice, human rights, and the dignity of peoples, and who remained a free voice committed to defending the oppressed and marginalized around the world.”
President Ghali reviewed the late Ziegler’s political and intellectual commitment to human rights, describing him as a model of dedication to the causes of freedom, emancipation, and social justice.
Throughout his parliamentary, academic, and diplomatic career, Jean Ziegler courageously defended the right of peoples to self-determination and consistently opposed all forms of injustice, exploitation, and domination, considering human dignity to be an inalienable right.
The President of the Republic noted that Jean Ziegler would remain deeply engraved in the national memory of the Sahrawi people in recognition of his honorable positions and unwavering support for the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination and independence, as well as his steadfast defense of the principles of international legality and international law.
He added that the passing of Jean Ziegler represents a major loss for the global human rights movement and for all those who believe in the values of freedom, justice, and solidarity among peoples. Nevertheless, his intellectual and humanitarian legacy will endure and continue to inspire future generations in the struggle for a more just and equitable world.
Jean Ziegler, a Swiss national, held doctorates in law and economics from University of Bern and served as a professor of sociology at University of Geneva and at Sorbonne University.
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