Taking Up ArmsA military operation has been launched by Morocco in the buffer zone of Guerguerat near Mauritania, as announced Friday. The North African nation also denounced "the provocations of the Polisario" in Western Sahara — once a colony of Spain with a still undefined status. For about three weeks, local sources claim militias of some 70 armed men have been "attacking truckers, banning traffic and racketeering." All this in spite of UN settlement efforts — as the organisation-led negotiations involving Morocco, the Polisario, Algeria and Mauritania have been suspended for several months. BackgroundThe region of Guerguerat has already been at the centre of strong tensions between the Polisario and Morocco, particularly in early 2017.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 13, 2020 10:41 UTC