Emboldened by Algeria’s military and diplomatic cover, the Polisario inaugurated 2018 with a resumption of provocations in the Guerguarat area, the southernmost tip of Morocco’s southern provinces, the Sahara. With such an aggression, the Polisario has acted on the threats to violate anew the 1991 cease fire agreement by stationing troops on the Guerguarat border crossing with Mauritania, east of the Morocco-built security wall. The incident required the intervention of the UN mission to the Sahara, MINURSO, who interceded with the Polisario militiamen to let the Rally participants cross peacefully. The Polisario, which occupied the Guerguarat crossing after Moroccan security forces left the area in compliance with a request of the UN Security General, were humiliated in April when they had to retreat to avoid an outspoken condemnation by the UN Security Council. The Polisario armed men were forced to abide by international law without Morocco firing a single bullet.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 04, 2018 08:26 UTC