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After several Arab States showed support for Morocco regarding its military intervention in Guerguerate, it was the turn of African countries to back the operation led by the Royal Armed Forces, Friday, November 13, in the buffer zone of Guerguerate.
Gabon, a traditional ally of the Kingdom, expressed «its deep concern at the illegal operations carried out by Polisario militias in Guerguerate since October 21, 2020». «These acts of provocation, sources of tension, constitute flagrant violations of the relevant agreements and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, severely hamper civil and commercial traffic, and weaken the agreed-upon ceasefire», a statement by the Gabonese Ministry of Foreign Affairs added. For the record, Libreville opened on January 17, 2020 its consulate general in Laayoune.
The same goes for the Union of the Comoros. In a statement released on Saturday November 14 on behalf of the Head of State, the Foreign Ministry declared it was «following with attention the situation in the Moroccan Sahara where the Royal Armed Forces are facing the obstruction of civil and commercial traffic at the border of El Guerguerate by the elements of the Polisario».
Moroni took this opportunity to salute the sustained efforts made by the UN Secretary General in the search for a political and diplomatic solution to the dispute. The Union of the Comoros inaugurated its consulate general in Laayoune on December 19, 2019.
Several African countries show their support
Djibouti has joined the list of African countries supporting Morocco's action to secure the movement of goods and people in Guerguerate. The Djibouti Foreign Ministry has expressed its «rejection of any act likely to affect traffic at this vital passage between the Kingdom of Morocco and its African profundity». Djibouti also reiterated its position of principle in favor of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco. The country, located in the Horn of Africa, opened a consulate general in Dakhla on February 28, 2020.
The Central African Republic has also expressed «its support for the Kingdom of Morocco for its attachment to respect for the Ceasefire Agreement and its stance for a political solution in favor of security and stability in the region», the CAR Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated in a press release.
Bangui is also «condemning any violation of the terms of the Agreement, and calling for its respect as well as for the continuation of political and diplomatic negotiations». The Central African Republic opened a consulate general in Laayoune on January 23, 2020.
Egypt on the cautious side
In Sao Tome and Principe, support for the Kingdom was expressed by the President of the National Assembly, Delfim Santiago Das Neves. The parliamentary official condemned «the criminal act» of blocking Guerguerate. «We believe that in the name of legality, plausible solutions allowing the movement of people and goods will be found so as to be able to ensure the safety of the population», the Sao Tome and Principe representative added. The Republic of Sao Tome and Principe inaugurated, on January 23, 2020, its consulate general in Laayoune.
As for Cairo, support for Morocco remains more cautious. Egypt calls on «the parties to show restraint and to respect the resolutions of the Security Council calling for a ceasefire and to refrain from any act of provocation and any act prejudicial to economic interests and trade in the region», said the spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cairo stresses the need to take the path of dialogue and the continuation of the political process.
This process would allow reaching a settlement for the crisis which must guarantee «the stability and the interests of all the parties and respect the particular considerations of international law and especially the principle of State sovereignty», the Egyptian representative specified. On Saturday November 14, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Choukri had phone conversations with his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
