Thousands of Mauritanian gold miners enter border zone with Morocco, fearing retaliation

 Approximately a thousand gold miners from Mauritania have reportedly crossed into the buffer zone along the border with Morocco, an incursion that raised significant concerns among industry professionals, who fear that such actions could provoke airstrikes by the Moroccan military.

Upon learning of the miners’ actions, local mining unions promptly informed the regional security authorities in the Tiris Zemmour region in an attempt to prevent any further violations and to ensure that these types of incidents do not recur,  a union source from Mauritania told Hespress.

The same source explained that, since the beginning of Ramadan, miners have been entering the region, under the mistaken belief that Moroccan forces would not retaliate out of respect for the holy month, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of miners crossing into the disputed territory. 

There is growing apprehension among professionals in the sector that Moroccan forces might strike in response, which could lead to casualties and provide an opportunity for certain parties to manipulate the issue to further strain the relations between Morocco and Mauritania.

Authorities in Mauritania were alerted to the situation by the emergency management committee of the Tiris Zemmour region, led by the regional governor, which involves various security agencies. 

The unions have called for a swift response from the government, hoping that it is not too late to resolve the issue peacefully, while urging Moroccan forces to exercise restraint until Mauritanian authorities can convince the miners to vacate the area without incident.

Reports suggest that the miners are crossing into the disputed region between Morocco and the Polisario Front at night, using unguarded entry points, which has raised alarms within Mauritania, prompting calls for stricter border controls.