Africa Eco Race: Polisario Furious to See Competition Going in Full Steam
The Algeria-backed polisario separatist group is furious to see the 12th edition of Africa Eco Race Rally going ahead as planned without a glitch despite their threat to disrupt this annual off-road rally race.
After arriving in Tangiers (Northern Morocco) coming from Monaco on Januray 7, the 688 competitors with their 266 vehicles (trucks, cars and motorbikes), crossed several Moroccan cities including Kenitra (North), Mhamid, Assa, Smara and Dakhla, in Moroccan Sahara.
They are now heading for Southern Moroccan Guerguarate crossing point on the borders with Mauritania where the racers will go through some challenging desert stages before crossing the finish line on Jan.19 in Saint Louis, Senegal.
As usual, the polisario leaders sent to UN Chief a protest letter which had no impact on the Africa Eco Race Rally, part of the F.I.A & F.I.M. international motorsports’ events. The race was launched 12 years ago.
In response to the Polisario’s threats to harass the racers, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressed, in a statement issued Saturday, the importance “to allow for regular civilian and commercial traffic to proceed and to refrain from any action that may constitute a change to the status quo of the Buffer Strip” in Guerguarate.
He also reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to support the parties to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
