The Mauritanian army foils an armed infiltration by Polisario fighters near the Algerian border
On Monday, June 2, a patrol from the Mauritanian army intercepted an armed group from the Polisario Front as they attempted to infiltrate Mauritanian territory. The individuals were dressed in civilian clothing and traveling in ten vehicles with Mauritanian license plates. According to intelligence reports, they intended to carry out attacks against sites belonging to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces or civilian targets west of the sand wall.
The group’s movements were monitored and tracked using a drone operated by the Mauritanian army, leading to the thwarting of the operation and forcing the individuals to retreat back to the Tindouf camps within Algerian territory.
This incident follows weeks after the Mauritanian army’s decision to close the “Boreika” border area with Algeria, a decision that spurred opposition from the Polisario Front, and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s refusal to reverse it. The decision went into effect on May 21 and marked a security measure to prevent infiltrations and irregular activities along the eastern border.
The recent military intervention reflects a clear trend in Nouakchott towards tightening surveillance on its eastern border, especially with an increasing reliance on drones for security operations. In June 2024, the Mauritanian army acquired two Chinese “MALE BZK-005 Chang Ying” drones from Norinco. Furthermore, the European Union has committed to supporting Mauritania and Chad with drones under a special support program following the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the G5 Sahel group.
