Morocco musters more support for intervention in Guerguarat, more voices call for safeguarding free flow of traffic

Morocco is mustering more support for its military intervention in the border crossing point of Guerguarat that enabled to re-open the blocked road for international traffic according to strict rules of engagement, avoiding citizens and restricting use of arms to self defense.

Countries from the four corners of the globe and several international and regional organizations have voiced support for Morocco’s legitimate action to put an end to Polisario’s provocations supported by the Algerian regime, and stressed the imperative need to guarantee the free traffic of people and goods in the Guerguarat crossing.

 

In this connection, the Australian Arabic Council (AAC) on Wednesday welcomed Morocco’s “peaceful and responsible initiative” aimed at restoring security and easing the free movement of people and goods in Guerguarat, in the Moroccan Sahara.

In a statement to the press, the Council expressed its solidarity and support for the Kingdom and the responsible measures taken, in accordance with international law, by King Mohammed VI to defend Morocco’s sovereignty and the rights and security of its citizens.

The Council, expressing concern over the recent developments in the buffer zone of Guerguarat, recalled that the polisario militiamen had “committed acts of banditry” and obstructed the free movement of vehicles on the main commercial road between the Kingdom and Mauritania, while continuously harassing local civilians.

This blockade, caused by the separatists, was accompanied by the destruction of the road linking Morocco to Mauritania, said the AAC, which is a national organization working on issues of human rights and inter-community dialogue in Australia.

Faced with these provocations, Morocco had immediately alerted the UN Secretary General and senior UN officials of these extremely serious developments, the Council underlined, pointing to the fact that the Kingdom has also drawn the attention of members of the Security Council and neighboring states to this situation.

Actually, the Polisario separatists, emboldened by the Algerian military regime, have on multiple occasions sent armed men to block the road which links Morocco to its African depth.

After the Polisario sent on October 21 its militiamen to the area that was handed to the UN as a buffer strip free of arms, Morocco has given three weeks for the UN to clear the passage from the armed men that wreaked havoc, disrupting international traffic and committing acts of banditry.

The Kingdom then conducted an operation on November 13 to restore free movement at this crossing point.

This operation was conducted peacefully, without clashes or threat to the safety of civilians and in accordance with clear rules of engagement that prohibit any contact with civilians, the council underlined.

The Council reiterated its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to achieve a negotiated, just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, in accordance with various Security Council resolutions.

Founded in 1992 by a group of eminent jurists and businessmen from the different communities, the AAC runs proactive projects, and advocate for wide ranging solutions to racism. It consistently promotes human rights and community relations.