Mauritanian Miners' Coalition Denies False Reports
A coalition representing Mauritanian miners has firmly rejected reports suggesting that Mauritanian prospectors were the targets of a recent drone strike executed by Moroccan forces in the contentious Sahara region. The coalition has accused various media outlets and social media users of disseminating misleading information that could jeopardize the diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries. This statement emerged following an incident where a Moroccan military drone allegedly struck two vehicles within a restricted buffer zone located near Akleibat El Foula, situated east of Morocco's security barrier in the Sahara. Online narratives had inaccurately claimed that these vehicles belonged to Mauritanian miners engaged in operations within the vicinity.
In an official statement, the Coalition of Artisanal Mining Unions, based in Mauritania's Tiris Zemmour region, dismissed these allegations, asserting that the drone strike was aimed at Sahrawis in a disputed territory rather than Mauritanian prospectors. The coalition emphasized, "Certain websites and bloggers have misrepresented the facts, asserting that the strike was directed at Mauritanian miners beyond the border area. This assertion is false and diverges significantly from the reality of the situation." They further highlighted that such misleading accounts not only lack credibility but also pose a risk to the reputation of Mauritanian miners and could exacerbate tensions between Morocco and Mauritania.
Calls for Responsible Reporting and Clarification of Facts
The coalition urged all parties to practice diligence in their reporting and to refrain from spreading misinformation that could further complicate an already sensitive geopolitical landscape. Mohamed Hassan Mahmoud Al Alawi, the president of the General Union of Mauritanian Prospectors, expressed astonishment at the allegations circulating in some Mauritanian media and among bloggers regarding the targeting of Mauritanian nationals. He noted that miners familiar with the region were aware of the identities of the individuals and vehicles implicated in the incident.
According to Al Alawi, Mauritanian authorities had recently directed prospectors to vacate areas in proximity to the border with the Sahara, initially providing a ten-day deadline that has since been extended twice, with the latest deadline set for mid-month. He characterized the claims suggesting that Mauritanian miners had crossed into the zone involved in the strike as "fabrications" and cautioned that such narratives could prompt prospectors to breach territorial restrictions, ultimately endangering their safety and interests.
Al Alawi went on to assert that certain unidentified parties might be attempting to exploit this incident to destabilize the relations between Morocco and Mauritania, which he described as stable and devoid of significant disputes. Regarding the overarching conflict in the Sahara, he remarked that Morocco perceives itself as engaged in an armed conflict with the Polisario Front, thereby asserting its right to conduct military operations within the buffer zone, especially following recent assaults attributed to the movement. He further claimed that Polisario fighters increasingly employ civilian attire and vehicles resembling those used by prospectors, complicating the task of distinguishing between combatants and civilians in certain scenarios.
The details surrounding the drone strike and the identities of those involved remain unverified by independent sources, and Moroccan authorities have yet to release comprehensive information regarding the operation.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
