A series of powerful explosions rocked the city of Smara in Morocco-controlled Western Sahara, leaving one person dead and three others injured, as well as causing damage to two houses. Local authorities have reported that the blasts occurred in three different neighborhoods of Smara.
Social media footage, albeit unverified, showed the aftermath of the explosions, including a partially collapsed roof and scattered metal debris. The precise source and nature of the projectiles are currently under investigation by the judicial police, who are working to identify the origin and type of the explosive devices.
Western Sahara, a resource-rich desert territory situated in North Africa, has been embroiled in conflict since Spain withdrew as the colonial power in 1975. This withdrawal ignited a long-lasting war between the Algeria-backed Polisario Front and Morocco for control over the region. Eventually, a cease-fire agreement was reached in 1991, granting Morocco control over 80% of the territory while the Polisario, representing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, retained control over the remaining portion and pursued aspirations for an independent state.
In November 2020, the Polisario Front announced the resumption of its armed struggle for independence. Most of the recent fighting has been described as “low intensity” by the United Nations and has predominantly taken place in the uninhabited eastern region along the Morocco-built security wall. Despite calls from the UN Security Council for the parties involved to seek a mutually acceptable solution, both sides continue to clash.
The Polisario Front recently claimed responsibility for targeting Moroccan occupation forces near Hanka Houria in the Smara region. In a statement, they asserted that their attacks would persist against the Moroccan occupation forces, who are allegedly suffering significant human and material losses along the “wall of shame.” This wall, constructed by Morocco in the 1980s, spans over 2,700 kilometers and acts as a barricade between the Morocco-controlled area of Western Sahara and the region the Polisario considers to be “liberated.”
The precarious situation in Western Sahara raises concerns about the escalation of violence and the humanitarian impact on the local population. As authorities continue their investigation into the recent blasts, the international community awaits further developments and hopes for a peaceful resolution to this longstanding conflict.
