UN probe reveals Algerian trucks were in conflict zone near Bir Lahlou

UN Deputy spokesperson says that the two Algerian trucks which Algeria alleged were attacked by Morocco were attacked November 2, contradicting Algiers’ claim that the incident happened on November 1 and raising a question mark about the reason of their whereabouts in a conflict zone.

UNITED NATIONS – United Nations Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said Friday that MINURSO’s preliminary investigation revealed that the two trucks, which Algiers alleged that they were “attacked” by Morocco were near Bir Lahlou, a conflict zone in the eastern part of Western Sahara, contradicting Algeria’s claim.

“Both vehicles were "severely damaged and charred," he said in response to a question from a reporter.

Haq said that MINURSO dispatched initial patrols on November 3 to the site of the alleged incident which occurred the day before, refuting Algeria’s claim that it happened November 1.

The spokesperson said that I did not know why the two trucks were in a conflict zone in a response to a journalist during the briefing, adding that the incident was still under investigation.

The UN announcement refuted Algeria’s accusations since the Algerian trucks were in a military zone, which raises a big question mark on how they got to and who pushed them to drive in the conflict zone in the first place while Algeria has invested millions of dollars on its border checkpoint with Mauritania.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for dialogue to lower the tension amid accusations by Algiers against Morocco over an alleged attack on Algerian truckers.

"The UN Secretary-General is aware of the situation (...). He is calling for dialogue to ensure that these tensions subside," said a spokesperson for Guterres during a daily briefing.

Answering a question about this issue, the spokesperson added that this call was communicated through "various channels at different levels."

The spokesperson also said that it is necessary to wait for the new Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to start his work on the ground and see how he can help improve the situation.

Analysts criticised Algeria for its latest “provocation” which sought to deepen the crisis with Morocco and raised a question mark about who was behind pushing the trucks to drive in a conflict zone while Algeria has its own route to Mauritania.

“The UN investigation confirms that the Algerian trucks were in a militarized and therefore prohibited area. The thesis of provocation by #Algeria is confirmed. Algiers clearly seeks to escalate the situation with its neighbour #Morocco,” tweeted Aymeric Chauprade, a geopolitologist.

 

This year Algeria cut off ties with Morocco, accusing it of failing to live up to its obligations over the Sahara issue and of backing a regional independence group inside Algeria. It has also ended gas supplies and cut off its airspace to Moroccan aircraft.

Morocco called those accusations fallacious and absurd, says Algeria was unjustified in cutting ties, and says Algeria is the main party in the Sahara conflict.