Projectile fire on Smara: MINURSO on the ground to document a ceasefire violation

Saturday, June 28, 2025 – Smara
Following the attack claimed by the separatist Polisario Front on Friday near Smara, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) conducted a field operation to assess the situation and gather evidence to draft a report for UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Accompanied by the Royal Armed Forces, the UN mission inspected the areas struck by the projectiles, one of which landed near its own camp. This action falls within MINURSO’s mandate to monitor compliance with the 1991 ceasefire agreement and regularly alert the UN Secretariat in case of violations or military movements.

Military experts from the mission analyzed the impact sites and the type of weapons used. According to sources close to the case, this effort aims to thoroughly document a ceasefire violation clearly attributed to the Polisario Front, which had claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had targeted “enemy military bases”.

Fortunately, the projectiles landed in uninhabited areas, causing neither casualties nor material damage. Nonetheless, the incident is serious, as it occurred near populated areas and UN infrastructure.

MINURSO’s findings will be included in the Secretary-General’s annual report, due to be presented to the Security Council in October. This report serves as a key reference document in discussions concerning the future of the regional dispute over Moroccan Sahara.

This episode underscores the continued tension on the ground and the need for strict monitoring to ensure stability and prevent any escalation that could jeopardize peace in the region.