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Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Sahrawi NGOs Condemn Polisario Attack on Es-Smara, UN Mission Launches Field Investigation
Rabat – A coalition of Sahrawi NGOs has strongly condemned the recent projectile attack near the southern Moroccan city of Es-Smara, calling it a 'hostile act' and a grave violation of Morocco's sovereignty and international law. The incident, which caused panic among residents but resulted in no casualties, is widely believed to be the latest in a series of attacks carried out by the Polisario Front. The explosions occurred in an uninhabited area a few kilometers outside the city, close to a MINURSO camp. Images and videos shared online showed debris from the projectiles scattered in the area. The United Nations Mission in the Sahara (MINURSO) visited the impact sites on Friday evening to conduct an on-the-ground assessment, according to local reports. The field visit, conducted in coordination with members of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, aimed to assess the damage and collect data for a detailed report that will be submitted to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In a statement released after the incident, the coalition of Sahrawi NGOs expressed deep concern over what it described as the Polisario Front's continued breach of the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement. It accused the group of intentionally targeting areas close to civilians in a desperate attempt to destabilize the region and spread fear. Algeria under scrutiny The coalition said local authorities recovered explosive shells near the urban center of Es-Smara, warning that such acts were aimed at harming civilians and striking at Morocco's territorial integrity. The attack 'signals an intentional targeting of a civilian urban environment in order to impose a new, unstable reality in the region,' the group said, adding that Algeria's support and silence made it complicit in the escalation. The statement blamed Algeria for allowing a non-state armed group to operate from its territory and carry out attacks against Morocco. According to the coalition, Algeria's failure to control its borders and prevent such escalations makes it fully responsible for the ongoing military provocations. It also warned that this incident reflects a pattern of indiscriminate violence and deliberate targeting of populated areas, contradicting Polisario's claims that it only strikes military sites. 'This, it argues, constitutes a breach of international law, norms, and conventions, and must be met with an appropriate international response.' The NGO coalition reiterated its solidarity with the residents of Es-Smara and called on the UN Security Council to act swiftly to preserve peace and stability in the region. It urged Algeria to support peaceful dialogue and UN-led efforts to find a political solution to the conflict, instead of backing armed provocations. This latest incident comes less than two years after a similar attack in Es-Smara in 2023, which killed one person and injured three others. In that case, Morocco's UN ambassador Omar Hilale stated that the blasts struck civilian neighborhoods and noted that the Polisario had issued a statement indirectly taking responsibility. 'There were no military installations at any of the sites,' Hilale said in a press conference after the incident, adding that 'targeting civilians is a terrorist act under international law, and those responsible will not go unpunished.' Hilale also emphasized that those behind the attacks, as well as those who arm and support them, must be held accountable. He specifically referred to Algeria, which has been hosting, financing, and fully backing the Polisario for decades. Polisario faces US pressure Meanwhile, in the United States, a bipartisan effort is underway to designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization. US Republican Senator Joe Wilson and Democratic Representative Jimmy Panetta recently introduced the bill, which cites the group's attacks on civilians and its renewed armed activities following the collapse of the 2020 ceasefire. Wilson described Polisario as a 'Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco, a US ally for 248 years.' The legislation cites the Polisario's indiscriminate attacks on civilians and its rearmament after the collapse of the 2020 ceasefire. Lawmakers from both parties argue that this designation would enable enhanced sanctions, travel bans, and financial restrictions against the group. The bill reflects growing US concerns over renewed violence, especially following the ceasefire ending in late 2020. Meanwhile, Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara has been gaining significant diplomatic backing recently. Rabat's comprehensive plan currently receives support from at least 113 countries, and the momentum is quickly growing. In 2020, the US officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and expressed support for the Autonomy Plan, with American officials recently reiterating this stance. In addition, France positively shifted tone in July 2024, labeling Morocco's 2007 autonomy proposal 'the only basis' for a just, lasting, UN-compliant settlement On June 1 this year, the United Kingdom became the third permanent UN Security Council member, after the US and France, to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' path forward. Tags: AlgeriaEs SmaraPolisarioSaharaWestern sahara


Morocco World
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Four Projectiles Land Near Es-Smara, No Casualties Reported
Rabat – Four projectiles reportedly landed today near the city of Es-Smara in southern Morocco. According to local media and eyewitnesses, the ordnance fell in an uninhabited area close to a military camp used by the UN MINURSO mission. No injuries or damages have been reported. The loud explosions frightened nearby residents, who rushed to the scene after hearing the blasts. Videos and photos shared on social media show what appeared to be the remains of the projectiles scattered in the area. photos shared on social media show what appeared to be the remains of the projectiles scattered in the area. The Polisario Front is believed to be behind the attack, especially with the separatist group's suspected involvement in similar incidents in the past. In 2023, four explosions killed one person and injured three others in the southern Moroccan city. The explosions occurred in two residential neighborhoods and an industrial area in the city. Soon after, Morocco launched an official investigation into the incident. The General Prosecutor at the Laayoune Court of Appeals ordered technical and ballistic analysis to determine the origin and nature of the explosive projectiles. Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, said that MINURSO had confirmed the explosions hit civilian neighborhoods, and that the Polisario had issued a statement indirectly taking responsibility. 'There were no military installations at any of the sites,' Hilale said in a press conference after the incident, adding that 'targeting civilians is a terrorist act under international law, and those responsible will not go unpunished.' Hilale also emphasized that those behind the attacks, as well as those who arm and support them, must be held accountable. He specifically referred to Algeria, which has hosted and financed the Polisario for decades. This new incident comes amid growing international scrutiny of the Polisario. US Republican Senator Joe Wilson and Democratic Representative Jimmy Panetta recently introduced a bipartisan bill that calls for the group to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill references the group's targeting of civilians and its return to violence following the collapse of the ceasefire in 2020. If passed, the bill could reshape how the US and other allies deal with Polisario and its supporters. Tags: Es SmaraexplosionPolisario


Morocco World
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
US Under Trump's Leadership Propels Push for Final Resolution of Sahara Dispute
Doha – A Spanish think tank report suggests the United States under President Donald Trump's returned administration is moving decisively toward resolving the decades-long fabricated Western Sahara dispute. This would potentially draw a definitive close to one of Africa's most unnecessarily prolonged and politically manufactured territorial falsehoods, long sustained by external agendas rather than historical legitimacy. According to an analysis published by Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economia Aplicada on June 11, 'the Trump administration has urged Algeria and the Polisario Front to sit down immediately with Morocco and accept that the only possible political path is autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.' During his first term, Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, marking a landmark diplomatic breakthrough for Rabat. Now, following his return to office in January, the American president appears poised to complete this initiative by establishing a definitive roadmap to resolve this contrived and concocted standoff in North Africa. Last April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the 'unwavering support' of his country for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, in addition to expressly stressing that the Autonomy Proposal presented by Rabat is the only viable and realistic solution to resolve the prolonged dispute in the region. Algeria pressed to choose between change or deeper isolation Washington has signaled its intention to review and potentially suspend funding for several UN missions, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). In a sharply worded op-ed published on March 19 in the Washington Examiner, Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called on the United States to halt funding for MINURSO, describing it as a failed mission that 'preserves and provokes conflict.' He labeled the Algerian-backed Polisario Front a 'Marxist' group that 'holds wives and children as hostages' in the Tindouf camps to block Sahrawis from returning to Morocco. 'By funding these camps and inflating Polisario legitimacy,' Rubin wrote, 'the UN perpetuates the problem.' This possible withdrawal of financial support 'underscores the urgency for direct parties – Algeria and the Polisario Front – to join negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty,' the Instituto Coordenadas report states. The report asserts that 'today, Morocco's autonomy proposal is the only basis for a credible and viable solution, but to make way for it, Washington needs the complicity and commitment of Algeria.' The White House has adopted measures 'to pressure Algiers, including pushing for Polisario disarmament and dismantling the Tindouf camps,' to bring all parties to the negotiating table. 'Presumably, Algeria will be subjected to pressure of unprecedented intensity, which will practically leave it no room for maneuver. That is the intention, at least,' the analysis notes. Refusal to cooperate could result in 'devastating consequences: greater diplomatic isolation, legal complications for its support of the movement, and probable secondary sanctions against Algerian entities that maintain links with the Polisario.' The report cautions that 'in Algiers, abandoning support for the Polisario after fifty years of commitment would be perceived as capitulation by a significant portion of the national establishment.' Another pressure point involves 'the threat of declaring the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO),' which constitutes a serious warning. A recent article published by the Hudson Institute on April 18 presents 'detailed legal arguments' maintaining that 'the Polisario Front meets the three legal criteria to be designated as an FTO' under Section 219 of the US immigration and nationality law. Washington's rush to seal the Sahara file Morocco's UN Ambassador Omar Hilale stated in an April interview with Medi1TV that 'the United States is determined to close the Western Sahara file, and we hope to celebrate the final end of this dispute at the 50th anniversary of the Green March with our Algerian neighbors.' The anniversary falls on November 6 – a highly symbolic date for all Moroccans. Speaking from New York, Hilale added that the current international context is 'marked by a positive dynamic and unprecedented international efforts.' He noted that more than 110 countries now support Morocco's position. The Instituto Coordenadas analysis explains that the Trump Administration considers Morocco an essential partner in its strategy for stabilizing the Sahel. American expectations regarding the Sahara 'aim to consolidate Morocco in a new status as a pivotal state in the US strategy for Africa.' In this regard, Washington's rush to resolve the Sahara dispute is also explained by its direct implications for the stability of the Sahel, a strategic region facing multiple security challenges, the report continues. 'This concern is reinforced by the growing presence of rival powers in the region, especially China, although it does not support the Sahrawi demands. One of Trump's international priorities is to counter China's growing influence in the world, including Africa,' the report continues. According to the report, there are also powerful economic interests in this urgency: the persistence of the dispute destabilizes the region and disrupts access to uranium, gold, and rare earth deposits that are vital to global supply chains. For the Iberian think tank, the US administration 'is aware of the enormous economic potential of the African continent, which promises the greatest future growth (demographic and economic), but also immense mineral wealth.' 'The White House is eager to establish new relational frameworks with countries in the region that take into account protection in terms of security, the definition of formulas to achieve greater political stability, and economic agreements that provide preferential access to resources and markets,' the analysis went on to say. The report argues that the American urgency to resolve the Sahara dispute is the result of a conjunction of strategic factors: the limitations of the internal political calendar, with the midterm elections (2026) in mind; the desire to consolidate Morocco as a pivotal state in Africa; competition for African mineral resources; and the determination to counter the influence of rival powers on the continent. Curtains closing on a separatist relic Rubio's forceful declaration, issued after his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, inflicted a humiliating setback on Algeria's outdated narrative. His statement erased any lingering ambiguity surrounding the stance of Trump's second administration and cemented US recognition as an irreversible pillar of American foreign policy. This bold reaffirmation torpedoed Algeria's worn-out campaign to resuscitate its decades-old partition scheme between Morocco and the Polisario Front. And for the shrinking chorus of separatist sympathizers, the message couldn't be clearer: even Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, came face to face with the reality that separatism has been sidelined – a relic of the past in a dossier Morocco has already locked in its favor. Meanwhile, international calls are mounting to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. In an opinion piece published on June 10 in La Provincia, Igacio Ortiz recalled Polisario's terrorist attacks against workers from Fos Bucraa and fishermen from the Canary Islands. ACAVITE has filed complaints against the Polisario for the separatist group's involvement in assassinating 300 people between 1970 and 1980. In April, US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson announced, 'I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists,' accusing Algeria and Russia of using the separatist front to gain a strategic foothold in Africa. Former UK Secretary of State for Defense Liam Fox made a similar appeal, stating: 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation.' As international support continues to grow for Morocco's position, De Mistura delivered what he called a 'strategic window' for the next three months to build a renewed roadmap toward a political settlement. De Mistura urged capitalizing on the current momentum, which he described as an 'unprecedented impetus,' to establish the groundwork for regional de-escalation and credible political process revival.


Morocco World
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Gulf Cooperation Council Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara
Rabat – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has once again reiterated its unwavering support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region, reaffirming its long-standing position during the latest session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), being held in New York from June 9 to 20. Representing the six GCC member states — Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar — the Kuwaiti delegate delivered a joint statement emphasizing the importance of the strategic partnership between the GCC and Morocco. The statement highlighted the shared commitment to advancing the joint action plan and defending Morocco's unity, security, and territorial integrity. In addition to reaffirming support for Morocco's position on the Sahara, the GCC countries welcomed the most recent resolution adopted by the UN Security Council concerning the region. The bloc also praised the continued efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, encouraging all parties to resume dialogue under UN auspices with a spirit of seriousness, realism, and mutual respect. Earlier this year, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al Budaiwi also expressed the Council's firm backing of Morocco's territorial integrity, particularly in the southern provinces of the Western Sahara. Speaking in March, Al Budaiwi described the issue as a matter of principle deeply rooted in the strong and strategic ties between Morocco and the Gulf states. At the time, the GCC further reiterated its support for the UN-led political process seeking a realistic and mutually acceptable solution to the regional dispute. In this context, the Council welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2756, adopted in October 2024, which extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO until October 2025. The resolution also urged all concerned parties, including Algeria, to actively engage in the process. Beyond its support for Morocco's sovereignty, the GCC commended the North African country's broader regional efforts. Notably, the Council endorsed Morocco's Atlantic Initiative — a strategic vision aimed at improving access for landlocked Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, thereby strengthening regional economic integration and cooperation. Tags: autonomy planGCCGulf Cooperation CouncilWestern sahara


Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Germany Commits €82 Million Package to UN Missions Including MINURSO
Doha – Germany announced Wednesday the renewal of its financial support to the United Nations Mission for Western Sahara (MINURSO), with a contribution exceeding €82 million. The funding aims to strengthen UN mission capabilities in key areas, including training, equipment, renewable energy, digital transformation, psychological support, and logistics. The financial package will primarily target MINURSO in Morocco's Sahara, considered one of the UN's principal peace missions in the region. It will also support UNIFIL in Lebanon and UNMISS in South Sudan. This announcement came during the UN Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping, hosted by Germany's Foreign Ministry in Berlin on May 13-14. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and high-ranking officials from over 130 countries attended the gathering. Berlin's renewed financial backing categorically demolishes recent media speculation about MINURSO's possible dissolution. It also signals Berlin's firm resolve to uphold peacekeeping in a region where order is routinely sabotaged by actors bent on chaos and disruption. At the heart of this volatility is the Polisario Front – a separatist militia whose escalating provocations and reckless breach of ceasefire agreements are pushing it toward international designation as a terrorist organization. Its actions not only defy diplomacy but deliberately target Morocco's territorial integrity in a dispute widely regarded as an artificial construct – manufactured during the Cold War to undermine the country's sovereignty. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also reaffirmed his country's ongoing support for UN peacekeeping missions worldwide during the conference. Currently, nearly 70,000 personnel – drawn from 120 countries – serve across 11 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, including approximately 55,000 soldiers, 6,000 police officers, and 1,100 civilian experts. Ironically, this European commitment arrives as the Trump administration reportedly contemplates slashing UN peacekeeping budgets, despite Washington's position as the dominant financial contributor at 27% of the total $5.6 billion funding. Not everyone views MINURSO's continued operation favorably, however. On April 9, the Atlantic Council published a scathing analysis of the mission's effectiveness. Senior fellow Sarah Zaaimi condemned MINURSO's current role as merely perpetuating a 'state of paralysis' in the region while lacking any meaningful mandate. Read also: 'Good Basis for Western Sahara': Germany Renews Support for Autonomy Plan Zaaimi exposed how MINURSO personnel stood idly by as 'spectators' during critical security developments, including Morocco's strategic reclamation of the vital Guerguerat crossing in November 2020. She simultaneously pinpointed the growing international consensus supporting Morocco's position, with formal backing from the US, France, and Spain. Even more damning criticism came from Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, who on March 19 demanded the Trump administration terminate what he branded 'failed UN peacekeeping operations.' In his Washington Examiner piece, Rubin eviscerated MINURSO as a 34-year, billion-dollar debacle that has failed to complete even basic census responsibilities. Rubin's harsh assessment didn't stop there. He lambasted Polisario's tyrannical practices, accusing the militant separatist group of brutally 'holding wives and children as hostages' to prevent refugee resettlement in Morocco. He further ridiculed MINURSO officials, claiming the surest way to locate them in Western Sahara is to visit 'Laayoune or Dakhla's bars, where MINURSO vehicles are ever-present.' The sharp contrast between Germany's robust financial endorsement and the searing critiques of MINURSO underscores the uneasy paradox at the heart of the mission's role. While European funding breathes life into its operations, fundamental doubts linger over its capacity to meaningfully address a decades-old, politically engineered standoff in Western Sahara. Tags: GermanyMINURSOMinurso in Western Sahara