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Rabat – The participants of the Africa Eco Race have passed through Guerguerat safely to Mauritania despite continued threats from the Polisario Front.
One of the race’s stages, however, has been canceled due to weather.
“Unfortunately, we could not anticipate the lack of visibility over Dakhla, which didn’t allow the three helicopters, dedicated to the security of the race, to take off,” reads a statement from Africa Eco Race.
Helicopters supervise the race and ensure security for participants.
“Therefore, the decision was then taken to cancel the special stage. The competitors therefore joined the Chami bivouac by the road.”
Africa Eco Race added that the racers returned to the track on the following day for a “100% sandy stage with several dunes … which will be challenging for some.”
Pro-Polisario news outlet Futurosahara reported that the race was justifying its cancellation of the stage by citing weather, suggesting young Sahrawis prevented the race by threatening to hamper the race.
Read Also: Africa Eco Race Traverse Guerguerat Safe and Sound
Participants of the rally, however, passed the Guerguerat stage safely.
Earlier this month, Polisario threatened to repeat maneuvers to disturb the participants of the Monaco-Dakar rally.
The same pro-Polisario news outlet reported that the “Monaco-Dakar Rally organizers ignore the Sahrawi authorities’ warnings for the second year in a row.”
In January 2018, Polisario’s “civilian police” sent two vehicles to the race and intercepted two participants.
Polisario continues its provocative actions, despite the warnings of Morocco and the United Nations on the buffer zones and areas east of Morocco’s defense wall.
On Monday, Polisario inaugurated facilities in Mehriz, an area east of Morocco’s defense wall claimed as a “liberated zone” by the separatist group.
The inauguration of the facilities in Western Sahara came after military maneuvers held in the same region by the front’s militia.
