Road traffic resumed on 14 November at the Guerguerat border post, marking the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania. The blockade of activity for several weeks served as a justification for launching a Moroccan military operation, leading to the end of a nearly thirty-year ceasefire between Rabat and the Polisario Front and the concerns of the international community.
According to the official Moroccan press agency, dozens of trucks blocked for three weeks passed on both sides of the border after the announcement that the Moroccan army had “secured” the area, a resumption was confirmed on the Mauritanian side.
The Polisario Front, for its part, claimed to have continued its actions in several areas. Saharawi’s defense minister declared “important victories” for Algeria’s press office, while the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, officially announced by decree that SADR was no longer bound by the ceasefire in force since September 1991. Its head of diplomacy, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, called for “sanctions and coercive measures against Morocco”. in an interview with the Algerian newspaper El Watan.
Concerned about the international community
The international community continued to express its concern on 14 November. Spain, a former colonial power, called for the resumption of negotiations, while the president of the African Union Commission, of which SADR and Morocco are members, Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed his “deep concern”.
The day before, UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterreshad seen his failure to avoid an “escalation”. Algeria and Mauritania, which recognize the Sahrawi state, demanded restraint.
► (Re) listen: Is Western Sahara igniting?
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