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In the wake of the May 5 attacks on Smara, Qatar’s response has sparked anger within the Polisario Front. The movement’s representative in Australia claimed that the statement issued by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs contained «a fundamental error, both factually and legally, which cannot be ignored». He insisted that Smara is «a city located in the heart of the occupied Western Sahara».
On May 9, Qatar’s diplomatic corps «reaffirmed the full solidarity of the State of Qatar with the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as its support for Morocco’s sovereign rights over the Moroccan Sahara». The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its support for «all measures taken by the Kingdom to preserve its sovereignty, territorial unity and integrity, as well as its security and stability».
In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, the head of the Polisario stopped short of directly naming the countries that condemned the attack on Smara, instead criticizing «recent irresponsible and inaccurate statements by certain governments seeking to mislead public opinion and obscure the reality on the ground» in the Sahara. Bachir Mustapha Sayed likewise adopted a cautious tone.
Meanwhile, Algerian influencers on social media voiced their disapproval of Qatar’s expression of solidarity with Morocco.
