Mauritania strengthens borders after alleged Polisario incursion

The Mauritanian army has blocked a group of Sahrawi migrants attempting to slip across the country’s northeastern border, underscoring Nouakchott’s growing resolve to fortify its frontiers.

The incursion occurred on May 27 in a tri-border zone near Algeria, Mauritania, and the self-declared Sahrawi Republic, reports Yabiladi. While the Algerian-backed Polisario Front claims the region’s independence, it is largely recognized internationally as part of Morocco.

For years, Polisario fighters have taken advantage of Mauritania’s porous borders to shuttle weapons and militants, staging operations across the Sahara. At times, the group has even managed to exploit Mauritania’s lax border controls with Morocco to launch projectiles at civilian targets.

According to Moroccan sources, the convoy of Sahrawi vehicles stopped at the border was accompanied by Polisario gunmen. However, Polisario-linked media attributed the situation to a misunderstanding involving “civilian travelers.” They claimed the issue was “resolved” after the head of the Mauritanian Patrol apologized to the Sahrawis.

Their account did not mention, however, that the group was ultimately forced back to the Polasario-Administered Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria.

The incident comes days after Mauritanian officials declared the Lebriga region “off-limits to civilians” on May 21. Located near the Algerian border, the region had long been a transit route for smuggling a variety of goods between the Tindouf camps and Mauritania.

According to a Military source in Nouakchott, the move indicated Mauritania’s commitment to eliminating smuggling routes and restoring security in areas plagued by trafficking and armed groups.

At the same time, the country’s relations with Morocco are steadily warming, much to the dismay of the Polisario and its Algerian patrons. Morocco’s increasing role in Mauritania has restored some order along their shared border, revitalizing trade and civilian traffic.

While it still maintains economic and diplomatic ties with Algiers, Mauritania is making efforts to prioritize its own stability.

Yabiladi/ Maghrebi