Polisario allows 'exceptional' MINURSO access to eastern sand wall, as UN points to front's obstruction

The UN has finally broken its silence on the Polisario’s prohibition of the MINURSO convoy from accessing Team-Sites, located east of the Sand Wall.

“Our colleagues there will recall that the resupply of these Team-Sites east of the berm has been an issue on which we have had discussions with the parties,” Spokesman for the UN Secretary General Stéphane Dujarric said last night, without accusing the separatist movement of impeding the movement of peacekeepers.

Dujarric welcomed the fact that agreements have now been reached for a new convoy to leave “as soon as possible,” calling the agreement to “good news.”

“Due to the lack of ground convoy movements since the resumption of hostilities in 2020, MINURSO’s Team-Sites east of the berm are short of essential supplies, including fuel. We look forward to this convoy moving very soon,” he added.

Armed individuals of the separatist Polisario front recently prevented convoys of MINURSO vehicles from accessing its Team-Sites, located east of the Sand Wall, which departed early last week from Smara, Morocco.

On Thursday, the Polisario leader said that his movement “will guarantee, exceptionally and temporarily, a safe passage” to MINURSO elements “in the liberated Sahrawi territories,” in a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General.

A UN Security Council report had previously alarmed to the Polisario’s refusal to allow the free movement of MINURSO teams in the area, mentioning such restrictions have significant repercussions on the mission’s logistics and work.

The annual report of the United Nations on the Moroccan Sahara confirmed that the MINURSO ground patrols attempted to conduct a total of 4,072 visits to the Polisario units.

However, the Front prevented it from reaching its headquarters.

The UN document pointed out that the acting force commander in the MINURSO”mission was unable to establish direct contact with the front’s military personnel, and all contacts were conducted only through written correspondence, indicating that the front also refused requests to increase the frequency of the mission’s logistical trips.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, admitted that the Polisario obstructed the ground patrols that were supposed to be carried out by the MINURSO mission within the Front’s units, similar to patrols that it carries out in the sites of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces.