Dear Bokom Oumar

MINURSO Chief of Staff

Acting Commander
El-Aiun, Western Sahara
Bir Lehlou: August 28, 2016

In reference to your letter dated 25 of August, 2016, I have the honor to inform you
on the following:
1-At the outset of the tension arousing from this kind of situation, we were fully
aware of the seriousness of its implications with regard to the maintaining of the
existing cease fire between the two parties to the conflict, the PLISARIO Front and
the Kingdom of Morocco which has been reinforced by the Military Agreement
number 1.
2- It was in this context that H.E. Mr Brahim Ghali Secretary General of POLISARIO
Front and President of SADR has sent an urgent letter on August 15th, 2016 to H.E
Ban Kin Moon, the UN Secretary General, urging him to put an immediate end to the
dangerous decision of the Kingdom of Morocco to violate the very terms of the
Military Agreement N1 by instructing his military forces on August 11 to invade the
area known as Gargarat, which is, as you know well , beyond the Berm, and to
conduct operations and activities aiming to create a new realities on the ground and
thus altering the situation prevailing at the time of cease fire.
3- Due to the seriousness of the situation senior officials of my Department and me
personally have had series of meetings with MINURSO to draw their attention on the
gravity of the situation resulting from Morocco's persistent activities which were
documented by tangible proofs given to your office and your principals.
4- MINURSO delayed attempts to deal with these developments, and the
unfortunate first report of MINURSO regarding those developments, reflected in the
statement of the UN Spokes Person Farhan Haq on August 18 th, did nothing but
encouraging Morocco to go ahead further in the execution of her premeditated
plans.
5- Two days ago, on the August 26th, the UN Security Council was briefed by DPKO
recognizing finally that Morocco's activities in Gargarat constitute a violation of the
Military Agreement Number 1.

6- Nevertheless I regret that despite all this and your letter to both parties on August
25th, Morocco did not hear the call of MINURSO. Furthermore, Morocco made public
its objective to build an asphalted road in the said area beyond the Berm in direction
of the international southern borders of Western Sahara.
7- As a result of this situation I want to inform you that, as of the morning of August
28th, 2016, I have deployed military forces to the area to prevent further Moroccan
activities beyond the Berm, including the asphalted road it has started to build, with
the aim to modifying the situation ante.
8- It is only by exerting the appropriate pressure on the Kingdom of Morocco to fully
respect the Military Agreement Number 1, and to immediately end her activities,
that the tension thus created would decrease, so as the two parties and the UN
could contribute to the maintaining of the cease fire and consequently enhancing
the faith in the UN led peace process.
High considerations.

Abdallahi Lehbib Belal

Minister of Defense