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Showing posts with the label Mauritania

Western Sahara: Moroccan escalation, role of Mauritania and challenges of the Tindouf–Zouerate road

On October 23, 2025 , Brahim Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Secretary-General of the POLISARIO Front, denounced a new Moroccan escalation in Western Sahara: the construction of a 93-kilometer road linking Smara to Mauritania, crossing the sand wall erected by Morocco since the 1980s. According to the UN Secretary-General’s report (S/2025/612), this road constitutes a “second passage” to Mauritania, alongside the Guerguerat corridor. In a letter addressed to António Guterres, Ghali described the initiative as a “provocative and escalatory measure,” recalling the precedent of Guerguerat in 2016. According to the POLISARIO Front, the “civilian” justification put forward by Rabat hides a political and military logic: every infrastructure south of the wall reinforces the occupation and creates facts on the ground. A Strategic Moroccan Road Under Civilian Cover The route from Smara to Bir Moghrein crosses the liberated zone and connects the occupied territory...

Western Sahara: A Historic U-Turn Puts Africa’s Last Decolonization Issue Back in the Spotlight

New York, April 16, 2025. In the solemn chamber of the United Nations Security Council, a man takes the floor. With composure, precision, and a measured gravitas, Staffan de Mistura , the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, delivers a briefing that, according to several diplomats present, may well mark a turning point in the protracted Sahrawi dossier. This report comes at a highly charged moment: fifty years after Spain’s withdrawal from Western Sahara in 1975, the question of decolonization remains unresolved, frozen in a status quo that only a crisis—or a concerted international awakening—might shake loose. For the first time in a long while, such a shift now appears within reach. A Diplomatic Trilogy at the Core of the Report Three key messages emerge from De Mistura’s address—three pillars that reflect both the current posture of the United States and shifting power dynamics within the Security Council. 1. Toward “Genuine” Autonomy: A Call for Clari...

Morocco’s Imaginary Projects: A Media Strategy or Genuine Development?

Morocco relies on spectacular announcements, showcasing grand ambitions that are often devoid of realism and funding, thus revealing a motivation that is more political than economic. In contrast, Algeria, driven by its pan-African vision, stands out through concrete and impactful achievements, built on its national resources and universally recognized expertise. Neither Africans nor the international community can be deceived: these initiatives, which resemble diversionary tactics, share a common denominator. They aim to fabricate a false legitimacy for the illegal colonization of Western Sahara under the pretext of African solidarity. In the long run, African nations will be able to distinguish sincere commitments from hollow promises. True to its principles of integration and regional development, Algeria continues to strengthen its position as a major and indispensable player in Africa's progress. The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline: A Distant Dream? The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipe...