Moroccan Military Thwarts Unauthorized Prospecting in Border Zone

Friday 09 August 2024 - 15:50

In a recent incident, the Moroccan military employed drone technology to target and strike two vehicles and a large truck belonging to prospectors from the Tindouf camps in the buffer zone near the Mauritanian border. The attack, which occurred in the "Mak" area, did not result in any casualties.

Sources further disclosed that Mauritanian prospectors involved in illegal mining activities were also present in the area at the time of the Moroccan drone strike. These prospectors immediately fled into Mauritania following the attack.

In response, the governor of Tiris Zemmour state in northern Mauritania convened an emergency meeting with regional mining unions on Thursday. The governor urged local prospectors to respect Mauritania's territorial integrity and emphasized the need for immediate measures to enforce border regulations. He also called for large-scale awareness campaigns to educate prospectors about these regulations.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of similar occurrences in recent years, as both Sahrawi and Mauritanian prospectors have ventured into the buffer zone despite the known risks. Some prospectors attempt to evade Moroccan drone surveillance by keeping their vehicles away from prospecting sites and avoiding electronic devices that could reveal their location. They also prefer to operate at night to minimize detection.

Sources noted that while the buffer zone was once more accessible for mining and smuggling activities, the Moroccan military's deployment of drone technology has significantly curtailed these operations. This latest incident underscores the Moroccan government's determination to enforce its control over this strategically important area and deter unauthorized activities in the region.