Sahara : Is Morocco preparing military action in the buffer zone ?

Spanish daily La Razón has reported that the Royal Armed Forces are moving heavy artillery towards Bir El Guendouz, in Western Sahara. This echoes the troop deployment preceding the November 2021 «liberation of traffic at the El Guerguerate border crossing» after weeks of Polisario blockade, the source notes.

During a speech delivered last week, Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali warned of the «reckless behavior and measures with incalculable consequences of the Moroccan enemy», urging caution and constant readiness «to face all eventualities».

This follows a Polisario leadership meeting on January 14, reportedly focused on «examining the latest developments on the ground, particularly at the level of the combat fronts», as announced by the Front’s press agency.

Despite the heightened tensions, Morocco expressed willingness to «return to the previous legal, spatial and field situation» before the ceasefire breakdown, Ambassador Omar Hilale affirmed in October 2022.

For the record, UN special representative for Western Sahara, Alexandre Ivanko, reported to the Security Council in October 2023, the problems facing UN peacekeepers in the region. «continued restrictions on freedom of movement have led to the inability of MINURSO to safely access areas at or near the berm or the buffer strip and operate a safe and reliable logistics, maintenance and resupply chain to team sites east of the berm», he said.