{"id":5836,"date":"2025-05-17T00:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T00:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adalauk.org\/?p=5836"},"modified":"2025-06-07T01:08:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T01:08:27","slug":"adala-uk-condemns-moroccan-drone-strike-that-killed-two-mauritanian-civilians-in-eastern-western-sahara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adalauk.org\/?p=5836","title":{"rendered":"Adala UK Condemns Moroccan Drone Strike That Killed Two Mauritanian Civilians in Eastern Western Sahara"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

London, 17 May 2025<\/strong> \u2014 Adala UK strongly condemns the deadly drone strike carried out by Moroccan occupation forces on 16 May 2025<\/strong>, which targeted a civilian vehicle in Kuerziz<\/strong>, an area east of the Moroccan military wall<\/strong> in Western Sahara<\/strong>. The attack resulted in the deaths of two unarmed Mauritanian civilians<\/strong> and represents a grave violation of international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victims,\u00a0Mohamed Ould Hmeine Salem<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Ennaama Ould Sidi Bouya<\/strong>, were travelling in a Mauritanian-registered vehicle (plate number\u00a008 AB 8550<\/strong>) when they were targeted by a Moroccan drone. The strike completely destroyed the vehicle and killed both men. Their remains were later transported to the city of\u00a0Zou\u00e9rat<\/strong>, Mauritania, approximately 200 kilometers from the site of the attack.(click here, video<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Serious Escalation of Moroccan Aggression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This strike occurred well outside the occupied zone<\/strong>, in a part of Western Sahara considered outside Morocco\u2019s internationally disputed control<\/strong>. The use of drones in such civilian contexts marks a dangerous new phase in Morocco\u2019s ongoing militarisation of the region, and raises urgent questions about accountability, impunity, and the targeting of non-combatants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack is not an isolated incident. Since 13 November 2020<\/strong>, when Morocco violated the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement by launching a military operation in Guerguerat, Adala UK has documented a growing number of drone strikes, shelling, and military harassment by Moroccan forces in Western Sahara<\/strong>. Many of these attacks have targeted Saharawi civilians<\/strong> and foreign nationals with no connection to any armed activity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Violation of International Humanitarian Law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Morocco\u2019s use of lethal force against civilians is a clear breach of international humanitarian law<\/strong>, including the Geneva Conventions<\/strong>, which prohibit attacks on civilians and require strict adherence to the principles of distinction<\/strong>, proportionality<\/strong>, and military necessity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This drone strike may also constitute a war crime<\/strong> and an extrajudicial execution<\/strong>, in violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)<\/strong>, to which Morocco is a State Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adala UK\u2019s Response and Demands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adala UK expresses its deep solidarity<\/strong> with the families of the victims and with all civilians\u2014Saharawi and non-Saharawi\u2014who face the threat of drone warfare and arbitrary violence east of the Moroccan military berm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We call on the international community<\/strong> to take immediate action to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n