Mauritania tightens northern border controls after Polisario attack on Smara

Authorities in Mauritania have moved to tighten controls near the country’s northern borders following a recent Polisario Front attack on the city of Smara, a strike that has raised fresh security concerns across the region.

Officials in the northern region of Tiris Zemmour ordered gold miners operating near the international border to leave the area and relocate at least 10 kilometers (6 miles) further within Mauritanian territory.

The decision was announced during a field visit led by regional governor Idrissa Demba Korera, alongside the commander of Mauritania’s 2nd military zone and senior security officials.

Authorities said the measure aims to regulate informal gold mining operations and ensure prospectors remain within legally approved zones managed by Maaden Mauritania.

While officials presented the decision as a security and organizational measure, observers say the timing is closely linked to rising tensions following the Polisario attack on Smara in southern Morocco.

The strike drew international condemnation and renewed concerns about instability in border regions shared by Mauritania, Morocco and Algeria.

Mauritanian authorities said the restrictions are intended to protect miners and reduce risks associated with unregulated mining activity in sensitive desert areas.

Officials also emphasized the need to ensure prospectors operate within designated legal zones.

Northern Mauritania has seen a significant gold rush in recent years, attracting thousands of artisanal miners to remote desert areas near regional borders.

The rapid expansion of informal mining camps has created growing logistical and security challenges for authorities, particularly in isolated areas with limited state oversight.

Nouakchott has increasingly adopted a cautious security posture along its northern frontier, especially as tensions related to the Moroccan Sahara continue to affect the wider region.

Mauritania has sought to maintain a balanced position while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict, but recent developments appear to have prompted authorities to increase surveillance and tighten movement near border areas.