On Monday, August 11, the Algerian army reportedly opened fire on a group of Mauritanian gold prospectors from the city of Zouerate, near the Tindouf camps. «The provisional toll reports four dead from gunfire and several injured among the gold seekers», a Moroccan source familiar with the incident told Yabiladi. Social media messages reviewed by Yabiladi confirm the fatalities among the Mauritanian nationals. Nearly 24 hours after the operation, Mauritanian media outlets remain silent, despite having been the first to report on drone strikes by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) targeting gold prospectors. The Polisario press has also chosen not to cover this incident. It is worth noting that this is not an isolated incident. In January 2023, two Mauritanian gold prospectors were killed and a third was injured by gunfire from the Algerian army. Similarly, in May 2021, Algerian military forces killed a Mauritanian while he was searching for gold, a fact acknowledged by authorities in Nouakchott. On that occasion, the government urged its citizens to «avoid these border areas, which are often sensitive military zones, and to primarily ensure they remain within the national territory».
