A Moroccan military drone struck two vehicles belonging to Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps in the Sahara’s buffer zone Tuesday morning, wounding two people but causing no reported deaths, a source at the General Union of Mauritanian Prospectors told Hespress.
Citing accounts from Mauritanian prospectors nearby, the source said the vehicles belonged to Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps who were believed to be searching for gold. They had entered the buffer zone near Garzerz before the strike.
No deaths were reported, according to the source, who said one vehicle was completely burned out while the other’s engine was disabled.
The incident follows earlier reported Moroccan drone strikes on vehicles used by Mauritanian gold prospectors who crossed into the buffer zone. Authorities in Nouakchott have repeatedly urged prospectors to remain within Mauritania and confine their activities to its territory.
As Mauritania tightens surveillance along its northern frontier, its border plans include additional checkpoints and an area closed to civilians.
Mauritanian sources previously told Hespress that Polisario forces had targeted prospectors inside Mauritania to pressure Nouakchott into reversing those measures.
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