Mauritanian miners’ coalition denies reports citizens were targeted in Moroccan drone strike

A Mauritanian miners’ coalition has denied reports that Mauritanian prospectors were targeted in a recent drone strike carried out by Morocco in the disputed the Sahara region, accusing some media outlets and social media users of spreading false information that could strain relations between the two neighboring countries.

The statement came after a Moroccan military drone struck two vehicles Friday in a restricted buffer zone near the area of Akleibat El Foula, east of Morocco’s security berm in the Sahara. Reports circulating online had claimed that the vehicles belonged to Mauritanian miners operating in the area.

In a statement, the Coalition of Artisanal Mining Unions in Mauritania’s Tiris Zemmour region rejected those claims, saying the strike targeted Sahrawis in a disputed area and not Mauritanian prospectors.

“Some websites and bloggers distorted the facts and claimed the strike targeted Mauritanian miners outside the border area. This is untrue and far from reality,” the coalition said.

The group added that such reports not only lacked credibility but also risked damaging the reputation of Mauritanian miners and creating unnecessary tensions between Morocco and Mauritania.

“We call on everyone to exercise accuracy in reporting and avoid spreading false information,” the statement said.

Speaking to Hespress AR, Mohamed Hassan Mahmoud Al Alawi, president of the General Union of Mauritanian Prospectors, said miners familiar with the area knew the identities of the individuals and vehicles involved.

He expressed surprise at reports published by some Mauritanian media outlets and bloggers alleging that Mauritanian nationals had been targeted.

According to Al Alawi, Mauritanian authorities had recently instructed prospectors to evacuate areas near the border with the  Sahara, initially granting a 10-day deadline that was later extended twice, most recently until the middle of the month.

He described claims that Mauritanian miners had crossed into the area involved in the incident as “fabrications” and warned that such narratives could encourage prospectors to violate territorial restrictions, potentially harming their interests.

Al Alawi also accused unnamed actors of attempting to exploit the incident to undermine relations between Morocco and Mauritania, which he said remain stable and free of major disputes.

Referring to the broader conflict in the Sahara, he said Morocco considers itself engaged in an armed conflict with the Polisario Front and has the right to conduct military operations in the buffer zone, particularly following recent attacks claimed by the movement.

He further alleged that Polisario fighters increasingly use civilian clothing and vehicles similar to those employed by prospectors, making it difficult to distinguish combatants from civilians in some circumstances.

The circumstances surrounding the strike and the identities of those targeted have not been independently verified. Moroccan authorities have not publicly released detailed information about the operation.