UN Chief Urges Polisario to Withdraw from Guerguerat Buffer Zone

During a press briefing in New York, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, recalled that regular civilian and commercial traffic must not be obstructed (in Guerguerat). According to him, no measures should be taken that could constitute a change in the status quo in the Guerguerat "buffer zone".

While denouncing the presence of a group composed of "fifty individuals" belonging to the Polisario, Stephane Dujarric invited all stakeholders to "exercise restraint by taking appropriate measures to ease the climate of tension in the area." He also reported on the mobilization of elements in the area to help defuse any tension and unblock civilian and commercial traffic.

According to the spokesman, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is still closely monitoring the situation.

On several occasions, the UN Secretary-General had summoned the Polisario to end the civilian and commercial occupation in Guerguerat.