On May 7, 2026, France issued a statement condemning attacks by the Polisario Front on the city of Smara in Western Sahara. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs described the attacks as 'unacceptable' and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
This condemnation follows a similar statement from the United States on May 6, 2026, which also denounced the Polisario's actions. The US State Department urged all parties to respect the ceasefire and return to UN-led peace negotiations.
The attacks on Smara, a city in the disputed territory, have raised tensions in the region. The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara, has been in a long-standing conflict with Morocco, which controls most of the territory.
France reaffirmed its support for the United Nations' efforts to find a political solution to the Western Sahara conflict, based on Security Council resolutions. The French statement emphasized the need for dialogue and de-escalation.
