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Algeria-Mauritania border declared a ‘military zone’

July 17, 2017 at 2:04 pm

Mauritanian forces [Magharebia/Flickr]

Mauritanian authorities have declared their border with Algeria a military zone which will be prohibited to civilians.

“The Ministry of National Defence informs the entire population, and in particular the population residing or visiting northern Mauritania, that the area defined hereafter is a military zone: the quadrilateral between Cheggat to the north Ain Ben Tili, to the northwest, Dhar Tichitt to the southwest and Lemreyya to the south,” the government office said in a statement.

“Anyone traveling or passing through this area will be treated as a military target,” said the source, adding that “it is impossible for the military to distinguish the peaceful citizens from the traffickers…”

According to Mauritanian media, the decision is a result of continued clashes between army forces and armed drug traffickers operating in the area.