Rabat – The African Union has called for the “resumption of talks” between Morocco and the Polisario Front as tensions heighten in Guergarate.
Dr. Nkosazana Diamini-Zuma, chairman of the Commission of the African Union, urged both parties to uphold the Military Agreement Number 1 and to end any and all violations of the 1991 ceasefire agreement.
MINURSO, the U.N. peacekeeping mission, oversees and monitors all violations of the ceasefire agreement. Military Agreement Number 1 restricts both parties from crossing the buffer zone with military units.
Morocco sent its gendarmerie or civil police force to the region of Guergarate to stop black market smuggling and drug trafficking. It is also building a road to connect with Mauritania and to better protect the region from ongoing smuggling operations.
In response, Polisario Front sent approximately 30 armed fighters to the region to stop the roadbuilding project.
Morocco has affirmed its commitment to continue in its road construction project in coordination with MINURSO.
Moroccan Interior Minister, Mohamed Hassad said the clean-up operation is being conducted “in strict compliance with the ceasefire, particularly the military agreement No. 1,” at last week’s Cabinet meeting held in Rabat.
Last week, the Moroccan Directorate of National Security announced that units of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) dismantled a drug trafficking network in Boujdour.
Four suspected drug traffickers were arrested and 500 kg of cannabis were seized by FAR.
Moroccan security forces also reported the arrest of a son of a Polisario leader. Majidi Ida Ibrahim Hamim was arrested with several other suspected drug smugglers from Mali. Hamim’s father is Ida Ibrahim, the former Wali of Es-Smara camp in Tindouf and current “minister of development” for the Sahrawi republic.
