Exchange of fire between the Moroccan and Mauritanian army in the Sahara

The Mauritanian army announced on Tuesday an exchange of fire with the Moroccan army on the northern border of Mauritania.

In a press release, relayed by the private news agency Al Akhbar, the Mauritanian army explained that one of its patrols came under fire on Tuesday, while pursuing a group of traffickers in the border area near Inal, in northern Mauritania.

It added that it «immediately opened an investigation to determine the source» of the shots, which did not cause any human loss.

Alquds Al Arabi, who relayed the information on Wednesday, reports, however, that an «exchange of fire took place by mistake» between the armies of Morocco and Mauritania. «The Moroccan army took the Mauritanian patrol for an enemy before opening fire», it wrote, stressing that the Mauritanian soldiers retorted before the two parties recognized each other and stopped firing.

The media also confirms that no one has been hurt during the shooting.