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Did the intervention of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in the buffer zone south of Guerguerate anger Mauritania? Algerian and pro-Polisario media have massively relayed the analysis of a Mauritanian political scientist claiming so. The latter expressed the «anger» of his country, saying that the «changes in positions of the Moroccan army in Western Sahara irritate Mauritania». These claims serve as arguments for the Polisario and Algerian media to counter the surge of support that Morocco has enjoyed in recent days, from several African, Arab and Latin American countries.
However, this analysis does not stand up to the situation in Mauritania. Contacted by Yabiladi on Monday, Saleh Ould Hanenna, former officer and president of the Mauritanian Union and Change Party (HATEM) categorically denied the information. «There is no such thing as a political or security inconvenience or anger over the Moroccan intervention in Guerguerate. This information is unfounded», he explained.
«The Mauritanian people are satisfied with Moroccan measures»
The Mauritanian political figure recalled that «Mauritania adopts a positive neutrality but prefers not to have any problem». He also explained that «the Moroccan intervention was necessary to pave the way, while Mauritania took advantage of this intervention, which was reflected positively on its markets».
«In our party, we consider that this step was necessary and that Morocco did not have a second option to open the border crossing».
For his part, El Hafed Ould El Ghabed, researcher, political scientist and Mauritanian journalist explained he has a hard time finding any anger in Mauritania on the subject. «The Mauritanian people, in their overwhelming majority, are satisfied with the Moroccan measures which have opened the important international road between Mauritania and Morocco, the closure of which constitutes a flagrant aggression against the MINURSO plan and international efforts to promote peace», he told Yabiladi.
«If there was anger or concern, it could come from a limited group that sympathizes, because of a social or political link, with the Polisario. It is only a formal sympathy», he added.
«As for official voices in Mauritania, I believe that Morocco only proceeded with the intervention after consultations (with the authorities, ed), as a party concerned by a positive neutrality on this issue.I also think that the Polisario, by closing the border post, took a reckless step that made it lose credibility, because it affected international interests and not only the interests of Morocco».
To the expert, «this type of information is part of propaganda which bears no influence on political decision-making in Mauritania».
A «Moroccan-Mauritanian cooperation before the military intervention»
On the other hand, journalist Cheikh Ahmed Amine, editor-in-chief of the Anbaa.Info newspaper, recalled that certain Moroccan media notably relay the information. «I first read the information on Al Massae but to me it is unfounded». «According to my information, there was military cooperation between Morocco and Mauritania even before the reopening of the border crossing blocked by the Polisario», he reported.
«It was an almost secret operation, because before the Moroccan intervention, Mauritania dispatched its army to the northern borders.These Mauritanian forces withdrew as soon as the border crossing was secured by Moroccan forces.If there was anger, the Mauritanian forces would not have withdrawn from the area».
The journalist also highlights the telephone call between King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and sees it as «a sign of close cooperation» between the two heads of State. To him, «this information is intended for media consumption and their purpose is to influence the recent Moroccan-Mauritanian rapprochement». «Guerguerate is also important for Mauritania, since its closure deprived the country of customs revenue», he concluded.
