He was twice Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs (1986-88 and 1995-98). 

The Polisario is an Algeria-backed guerrilla movement claiming the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was regained by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Agreements. 

Rabbani, who is from Tengha tribe that joined the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps in 1975, was also "General Secretary of the Interior Ministry" in 2000 and responsible of the so-called Polisario "Jaliyate"(communities) in Mauritania in 1985 and 1999. 

He was also appointed “National Secretary” of the Polisario (new commanding body that substituted the executive committee and the political bureau). Besides, he was Wali (governor) of “Aousserd” camp in 1992 for two years and Wali of “Dakhla” in 1994-95. 

Rabbani is the son of Cheikh Abdelaziz Ould Rabbani, a judge in Dakhla and a charismatic figure that is highly-esteemed by the population in southern provinces. He is also a relative of Ahmed Boukhari, current representative of “Polisario” in New York. 

He took part in the popular uprising that took place in 1988 in Tindouf camps, after which he was moved aside by the ‘Polisario' leadership. 

In October 2003, he was appointed “Minister-Delegate of the Prime Minister in charge of the National Direction of Control and Inspection”, a post that he occupied until his return to Morocco last Thursday.