Sahrawi refugees ordered to evacuate border by Mauritanian army
The Mauritanian army has ordered Sahrawi refugees to evacuate the “Lebreika” area in northeastern Mauritania because of security concerns due to the site’s role in illicit cross-border trade.
Moroccan government-friendly outlet HESPRESS reported on May 21st that the area has been declared as a “no-go zone” and the Mauritanian army have prohibited civilian presence or commercial activity.
The border has been a transit route for the informal economy and for smuggling groups who use the crossing for the trade of subsidies goods, fuel, cement, and food between Algeria’s Tindouf camps and Mauritania.
The closing of the crossing comes just weeks after Algeria embarked on a diplomatic mission to Mauritania as the country looks to mend fractured relations in the region.
Abdelwahab El Kain, president of the NGO AfricaWatch told HESPRESS that the closure comes after months of pressure as tensions rise in the region due to the ongoing Western Sahara issue.
The Western Sahara covers a huge distance in West Africa, bordering Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria and is home to the native Sahrawi people who are represented by the political party Polisario Front.
Morocco has sought to gain autonomy over the region for decades and in recent years has managed to gain widespread international support – including from the US – for their claim over the region.
According to the president of AfricaWatch, Morocco’s involvement in the region has restored vital trade and civilian traffic through the border with Mauritania, which he claims had previously been disrupted by Polisario-aligned groups allegedly backed by Algeria.
The Western Sahara dispute has increased tensions between Morocco and their neighbour – and Africa’s largest military power – Algeria.
Algeria have repeatedly backed the Polisario Front and supported the rights of the native Sahrawi people in the Western Sahara and have condemned international support from Morocco, including from their former colonising power France.
International support for Morocco has left Algeria increasingly isolated.
HESPRESS/ Maghrebi
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