The adoption of Security Council Resolution 2703 of October 30, 2023 on the question of the Sahara comes in a context marked by an extremely serious development.
Indeed, on the night of Saturday October 28 to Sunday October 29, 2023, 4 projectiles explosions hit civilian neighbourhoods in the city of Smara in the south of Morocco.
These explosions caused 1 death and 3 injuries, 2 of which were serious, as well as material losses.
In this regard, the relevant public prosecutor’s office (Laayoune) has opened an investigation. Technical and ballistic analyses are underway to determine the exact nature and origin of the explosions.
The Moroccan government Authorities, which act within the framework of the principle of the rule of law, are careful not to pre-empt the results of the ongoing investigation, and do not comment on the judicial process. They will speak out as soon as the first elements are obtained.
In the meantime, the Moroccan Authorities are exercising restraint and the greatest reserve. However, it is already possible to note that there is a body of credible, consistent and convincing evidence, which points to the responsibility of the Polisario, which has been carrying out armed hostilities against Moroccan territory, since it decided unilaterally to violate the ceasefire, concluded in 1991, under the auspices of the UN.
The first evidence is nothing less than the Polisario’s own formal claim to the attack. In its “war communiqué no. 901”, in which it claimed that it had carried out armed attacks against Smara and in which it prides itself on having caused victims and casualties.
Furthermore, the Polisario representative assumed the content of this communiqué publicly, in front of the press, at the very headquarters of the UN, at a time when the Security Council had just adopted its resolution on the Sahara. He described it as part of the “struggle” being waged by this armed militia.
There is no doubt that these attacks targeted civilian neighbourhoods, where families live, and where there are no military or strategic installations. Even Smara civilian airport is more than 2 km from the scene of the attacks.
The Polisario’s claim of responsibility for this attack, made headlines in the international press. Dozens of articles reported it and the Polisario did not dispute them.
These attacks jeopardise regional peace and security, which Morocco regards as a red line.
Morocco remains calm in the face of these provocations, which are a clumsy and dangerous attempt to divert attention and exert pressure on the Security Council as it prepares to adopt its resolution on the Moroccan Sahara.
Morocco will not allow itself to be trapped by these ill-considered provocations. For all that, the Moroccan Authorities will carry out the investigations to their conclusion, establishing responsibilities and applying the law in its implacable rigor.
