Military Zone, Mauritania
I received this update today:
The Ministry of Defence declared on 12 July the establishment of an indefinite military exclusion zone in the country's northeast, citing security reasons. The zone extends from Ain Be Tili (Tiris Zemmour region) in the northwest to Dahr Tichit (Tagant region) in the southwest to Mauritania's eastern borders with Algeria, Mali and Western Sahara (see map). The authorities have said that any civilians found in or entering the area will be treated as a military target. Members should avoid all travel to the zone.
This decision to impose an exclusion zone has been taken in response to ongoing insecurity in the area, primarily the proliferation of militant groups involved in kidnapping and smuggling. As part of efforts to combat this activity, the authorities have struggled to distinguish between civilians and militants; this measure is being presented as an effort to better identify and intercept militants.
|