On Friday morning, a drone strike by the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces targeted two vehicles that allegedly entered a buffer zone prohibited to civilians in the Aglibat Al Foula region, east of the security wall in the Sahara. The strike has sparked controversy, with Mauritanian gold miners contesting the official narrative.
According to Moroccan military sources, the vehicles were in a restricted area near the border, prompting the strike as part of ongoing security measures. However, representatives of the Mauritanian gold miners claim they were operating within Mauritanian territory and had not crossed into the buffer zone. They argue that the strike was unjustified and have called for an independent investigation.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the region, where unlicensed gold mining is common and often leads to cross-border disputes. No casualties have been confirmed, but the miners' association has demanded clarity on the situation. The United Nations has not yet commented on the event.
