The Moroccan intervention in El Guerguarat aimed at restoring the free movement of goods and people between Europe and Africa was welcomed Wednesday at the Committee of External Relations of the Belgian House of Representatives (lower house).
In a question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès, on the occasion of her presentation of the general policy briefing of her department, the Deputy Federal Minister of State André Flahaut recalled that strong tensions had taken place over the past weeks in the buffer zone of El Guerguarat due to the blocking by elements of the Polisario of “the only motorable road leading to Mauritania”.
This is a deadlock, he said, which calls into question the 1991 ceasefire agreement.
Mr. Flahaut, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Minister of Defense of Belgium, explained to federal deputies who are members of the Commission and to the Belgian FM, “the crucial nature” of this road “which does not connect only Morocco to Mauritania but Africa to Europe”.
For the Belgian Minister of State, “to block this point of contact is to endanger the free movement of goods and people. It also undermines the historic link between Morocco and the rest of Africa”.
He underlined, in this regard, that “Morocco has intervened in a proportionate manner in order to ensure the resumption of movement and trade” at this vital crossing point, noting that “the international community has reacted favorably to the ‘Moroccan intervention intended to bring a lasting solution to the Sahara”.
Recalling the position of the European Union which is “in line with the resolutions of the Security Council and which is favorable to the search for a realistic, achievable and lasting political solution, which is based on compromise”, the Minister of State called for a position of his country in accordance with that of the EU.
The EU’s position on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara was recently reiterated by its High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell during the meeting he had with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita.
Mr. Borrell then expressed the EU’s full support for the efforts of the United Nations and its Secretary General to achieve a peaceful settlement to the Sahara issue, “in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and particularly the last resolution (2548) adopted on October 30, 2020”.
Regarding developments related to the situation at the border crossing post between Morocco and Mauritania, the head of European diplomacy had “particularly insisted on the preservation of freedom of movement and cross-border trade in the area of El Guerguarat, and its significant impact on the entire Maghreb and Sahel region, a region of strategic importance”.
He also stressed “the paramount importance of ensuring respect for the ceasefire agreements in force since 1991 and reiterated the EU’s full support for MINURSO’s efforts to this end”.
For Mr. Flahaut, “it would be legitimate for Belgium to position itself – for the sake of consistency – in the continuity of the interventions of the High Representative Borrell and of the work carried out by the United Nations”.
“We could thus recall our attachment to multilateralism and dialogue which are the basis of lasting peace,” he stressed.
According to him, Belgium could, in its position on this issue, recall the crucial importance of respecting the ceasefire agreement and stress the need to also respect “the historic link, therefore the free movement of people and goods between Morocco and the rest of Africa, and by extension between Africa and Europe”.
He also urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs to stress “the importance of a rapid resumption of talks under the aegis of the United Nations in order to allow the emergence of a negotiated and lasting solution to the Sahara issue”.
In this regard, he called for “a clear and motivated position to be taken before the Security Council” where Belgium currently holds the seat of a non-permanent member.
Several European politicians and experts were unanimous in welcoming Morocco’s commitment to the ceasefire and underlining the legitimate nature of the intervention of the Royal Armed Forces in order to secure the passage linking the Kingdom and Mauritania through the buffer zone of El Guerguarat and to put an end to the actions of the Polisario.
In an appeal to Mr Borrell, several MEPs from different political groups called for a strong EU support for Morocco in its efforts to secure the free passage of goods and people in the demilitarized zone of El Guerguarat. They also pleaded for European support for UN actions to relaunch talks aimed at achieving a lasting political solution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
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