Sahara : Mauritanian gold miners killed in the buffer zone

At least four Mauritanian gold miners were killed, near the town of Gleibat El Foula, located east of the Sand Wall erected by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), in the buffer zone, approximately 150 km to the east of Dakhla, falling within the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region. They were boarding three vehicles, leaving from the Mauritanian town of Zouerate. Mauritanian media alleges they were killed following an «air strike» in an «area controlled by the Polisario Front». A

Algeria says the Sahara will be one of its priorities during its UN Security council mandate

On January 1, five new non-permanent members joined the Security Council for the period 2024-2025. Algeria is one of them. Its president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, said during an address to the Parliament that the two priority issues for his country during this UN mandate will be Western Sahara and Palestine. Just like South Africa or Uruguay, Algeria will spare no effort to include the Sahara on almost all the monthly activities of the UN executive body, by requesting extraordinary meetings for

1,100 migrants intercepted by Moroccan army near Ceuta and Melilla

1,100 migrants were prevented by the Moroccan authorities from reaching Ceuta and Melilla on New Year’s Eve, Moroccan army said. The migrants were detained in the cities of Nador, M’diq and Fnideq overnight Sunday to Monday during a series of operations carried by the army, says a statement by the general staff of the armed forces quoted by French news agency AFP. 175 of these migrants were from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Yemen, the same source added, without revealing the

Moroccans in Ukraine fear military conscription amid war with Russia

The Ukrainian Parliament is examining a new bill on military conscription that could concern even dual citizens. These provisions mean that Moroccans who hold Ukrainian citizenship would be prevented from leaving the country and could also be summoned to join war ranks.

2023, a year marked by the US growing involvement in the Sahara issue

In 2023, the United States became more active in the conflict in Western Sahara. The regional context, marked by the arrival of new actors in the Sahel and West Africa, and the shortcomings of the UN in relaunching the political process, forced Washington to revise its strategy.

Diaspo #319 : Jamal Boussif, campaigning for the Moroccan community abroad

Through politics and community work, Moroccan academic Jamal Boussif, who lives in Strasbourg, campaigns for the rights of migrants in general and Moroccans in particular. He also works to defend his homeland and its national cause.

The Polisario campaigns against Morocco’s bid to head the UNHRC

The Polisario is leading a campaign against Morocco's bid to head the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). After the online meeting attended by representatives of Sahrawi associations, the leadership of the Front organized a meeting in the Tindouf camps, against the Moroccan bid. While the «Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara (CODESA)», chaired by Ali Salem Tamek, responded to the campaign, calling, in a press release, for the rejection

Algerian general Khaled Nezzar who met with late King Hassan II dies at age 86

Retired Algerian general Khaled Nezzar died at the age of 86 on December 29 in Algiers. The former strong man in Algeria was among the rare Algerian personalities, during the dark decade, who were able to meet King Hassan II. In June 1993, then-Minister of Defense Nezzar went to Morocco with the mission of asking late King Hassan II to hand over Abdelhak Layada, the military leader of the Islamic Army Group (GIA), presented by the military as the top Algerian public enemy. Layada had just fled

China’s BTR to build new lithium-ion battery cathode factory in Morocco

BTR New Material Group, a manufacturer of cathode and anode materials for lithium-ion battery affiliated to China Baoan Group, said that it is planning to build a new lithium-ion battery cathode factory in Morocco. The new plant, to cost an investment of USD496.6 million, is expected to produce 50,000 tons of cathode for lithium-ion batteries a year, BTR said Thursday in a press release relayed by Chinese newspaper Yicai Global. The investment and construction of the plant will be

At least 14 people died after their boat sank off Boujdour, Spanish NGO says

At least 14 people died after they drowned off Boujdour while attempting to irregularly migrate to the Canary Islands, Spanish activist and founder of migrants NGO said on Thursday. The migrants sounded an SOS after their inflatable boat was pierced, Helena Maleno of the Caminando Fronteras said. Malena said that one of the migrants sent her an audio in which she was asking for help. «We are here, Helena. I am a nine-month pregnant woman, and I am in the zodiac. All the children who were