Polisario Threatens War Against Mauritania Over New Morocco Trade Route

Doha – The separatist Polisario Front has escalated its destabilizing tactics by issuing direct military threats against Mauritania over the country’s plans to open a new commercial border crossing with Morocco.

The separatist group’s move suggests its dissatisfaction and frustration with the Moroccan government’s perceived, newfound determination to continue advancing its strategic economic partnership with its southern neighbor.

In inflammatory statements circulated by pro-separatist media outlets, senior Polisario leader Bachir Mustapha Sayed threatened to drag Nouakchott into armed conflict. He claimed that the new crossing would “turn Sahrawi borders into Moroccan borders” and “embroil Mauritania in a war between brothers.”

These hostile threats come as Morocco nears completion of a strategic 53-kilometer road project launched by the Royal Armed Forces in February 2024, connecting the city of Smara to the Mauritanian border.

Now in its final stages, the project aims to establish a new commercial crossing point to enhance trade flows between the two countries.

This latest development follows what was described as “a historic meeting” between King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in Casablanca, marking Ghazouani’s first visit to Morocco since taking office five and a half years ago.

The meeting has catalyzed several strategic cooperation initiatives, including agreements on electricity grid connections and high-speed internet infrastructure.

The power grid linkage will provide Mauritania with strategic access to electricity supplies from Morocco and the European Union, offering a crucial alternative as tensions rise in West Africa and threaten power generation from the Senegal River Basin facilities.

Regional observers note that Polisario’s aggressive posturing reflects its growing isolation and desperation as Morocco continues to advance its economic integration with neighboring countries.

The separatist group made similar threats in December 2019, when Polisario leader Ibrahim Ghali attempted to intimidate Mauritanian officials by warning their country “would be the first to be affected by any tension between Morocco and Polisario.”

The new commercial crossing represents an expansion of Morocco’s strategic presence in the region following the successful November 2020 Guerguerat operation, which secured border areas with Mauritanian approval and halted Polisario’s disruptive activities at the border crossing.

According to security sources, the new commercial crossing will be monitored by drone surveillance to protect against potential terrorist-style threats from the separatist militants.

The project is expected to significantly enhance regional trade connectivity and strengthen economic ties between Morocco and Mauritania, despite Polisario’s attempts to sabotage the growing partnership.

Broader regional stakes

This strategic development aligns with Mauritania’s shifting economic priorities, as Nouakchott increasingly views Morocco as an indispensable trading partner amid growing instability in the Sahel region.

The strengthening Morocco-Mauritania alliance has gained particular significance as Bamako’s military regime faces economic isolation and mounting security challenges.

Analysts emphasize that Nouakchott has successfully balanced its political neutrality on the Sahara issue while actively engaging in economic initiatives with Morocco, including participation in the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project and broader African coastal development plans.

This economic realignment parallels Mauritania’s reassessment of regional partnerships, with Mali’s outstanding debt of 50 billion African francs for electricity from the Senegal River Basin facilities threatening the organization’s financial stability.

This is becoming more pronounced as Nouakchott distances itself from Algeria, whose recent aggressive military incursions into Mauritanian territory and historical pattern of regional interference through its proxy Polisario Front have strained relations.

Recent developments also indicate strengthened Mauritanian military presence in the Bir Moghrein area in the country’s northwest, previously vulnerable to Polisario militant incursions, demonstrating Nouakchott’s commitment to securing its sovereign territory against separatist disruption.

This security enhancement coincides with Mauritania’s growing concerns over the presence of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries along its borders with Mali, where incidents of civilian kidnappings and village intrusions have strained relations with Bamako’s military government.