United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed Friday his “grave concern regarding the possible consequences of the latest developments” in Guergarate, caused by serious and unacceptable provocations by “polisario” militias in the buffer zone of Guergarate, in the Moroccan Sahara, while expressing disappointment at the obstinacy of other parties that led to the escalation of the situation.
“In recent days, the United Nations, including the Secretary-General, has been involved in multiple initiatives to avoid an escalation of the situation in the Buffer zone in the Guerguerate area and to warn against violations of the ceasefire and the serious consequences of any changes to the status quo”, said Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General during his daily press briefing in New York.
He also deplored that the UN chief’s appeals to the “polisario” separatists were ignored. “The Secretary-General regrets that these efforts have proved unsuccessful and expresses grave concern regarding the possible consequences of the latest developments,” the spokesman said.
“The Secretary-General remains committed to doing his utmost to avoid the collapse of the ceasefire that has been in place since 6 September 1991 and he is determined to do everything possible to remove all obstacles to the resumption of the political process,” aimed at achieving a negotiated political solution to the Sahara issue, the official added.
“MINURSO is committed to continue to carry out its mandate and the Secretary-General calls on the parties to guarantee full freedom of movement to the (UN) Mission in accordance with its mandate,” the spokesman concluded.
Morocco’s action in the buffer zone of Guergarate, in Moroccan Sahara, came after the other parties refused to comply with the calls and injunctions of the UN Secretary-General to leave the buffer zone and avoid escalation.
Morocco has acted, in accordance with its duties and in full compliance with international legality, to counter the serious and unacceptable provocations by “polisario” militias in Guergarate.
After having committed itself to the greatest restraint, in the face of provocations from the militias of the “Polisario”, “the Kingdom of Morocco had no other choice but to assume its responsibilities in order to put an end to the deadlock situation generated by these actions and restore free civil and commercial movement,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad pointed out in a statement.
The “Polisario” and its militias, which entered the area since October 21, 2020, carried out acts of banditry there, blocked the movement of people and goods on this road, and continually harassed the military observers of the Minurso, the ministry recalled, noting that these documented actions constitute real premeditated acts of destabilization, which alter the status of the area, violate military agreements and represent a real threat to the sustainability of the ceasefire, it added.
These acts undermine the chances of any relaunch of the political process sought by the international community, the ministry said, noting that since 2016, the “polisario” has multiplied these dangerous and intolerable acts in this buffer zone, in violation of military agreements, in contempt for the calls to order launched by the UN Secretary-General and in violation of the resolutions of the Security Council, in particular 2414 and 2440, which ordered the “Polisario” to put an end to these destabilizing acts.
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