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Sahara : Polisario threatens to conclude mutual defense agreements with African countries

The Polisario has threatened to conclude military agreements with African countries against Morocco. The Front no longer hides its ambition to involve African countries in a war against the Kingdom.

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The Polisario is once again making threats against Morocco. Interviewed by an Algerian radio, the separatist movement’s «Foreign Affairs Minister», Mohamed Salem Ould Salek announced that «faced with Morocco’s ongoing hindrance activity and the inability of MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) to force Morocco to commit to the agreed-upon settlement plan», his movement will claim the «right to self-defense by concluding Defence Pacts, a right recognized by the Constitution of the African Union (AU)».

«The SADR has enough friendly countries and peoples to conclude mutual defense agreements with, especially in Africa and elsewhere in the world», he added. The official did not name the states that the Polisario wants to involve in a potential war against Morocco.

Algeria's draft constitution authorizes the army to deploy outside its borders

The Polisario’s new threats come as South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tweeted on October 11, urging left-wing liberation movements in power in Africa, Asia and Central America to take up arms against Morocco and defend the claims of the Polisario.

Meanwhile in Algeria, voters are invited to adopt, on November 1, by referendum, the draft new constitution submitted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The new text authorizes the Algerian national army to conduct operations beyond the country's borders, which is not the case today. 

He indeed proposes the «constitutionalization of the participation of Algeria in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations» and the «constitutionalization of the participation of Algeria in the restoration of peace in the region in the framework of bilateral agreements with the countries in question». Two proposals maintained in the final version adopted by the Council of Ministers on September 6, chaired by the Head of State.

A new deal from which the Polisario is trying to take advantage as it intends to expand its to the areas east of the security wall, which it calls «liberated territories». The continued settlement of these regions, considered a provocation by Morocco and a violation of the status quo in force since the 1991 ceasefire agreement, needs the blessing of the Algerian godfather. 

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