Two Mauritanian gold diggers shot dead by Algerian troops

Two Mauritanian gold prospectors were killed by Algerian troops, the Mauritanian website Zouerate media has reported, according to a security source in Zouerate, the Mauritanian town closest to the border with Algeria. The Algerians confiscated two cars that were in the possession of Mauritanian prospectors when they were surprised at dawn on Friday.

According to the source, the two victims were shot while searching for gold using artisanal methods in Algerian territory, the source stated. A third Mauritanian gold digger was wounded and was taken to a health post north of Zouerate, the source added.

The Algerian soldiers also confiscated two vehicles held by the Mauritanians. The Mauritanian army has repeatedly warned these minors of the dangers of crossing or even approaching the northern border of Mauritania, where it borders Algeria and the Moroccan Sahara.

Indeed, many Mauritanians have been killed in drone bombings attributed to Moroccans while searching for gold in Sahrawi territory. Officially, Mauritania has never protested after these attacks against its nationals outside its territory.

This tragic killing comes just after the meeting of the Joint Commission for the security of the Algerian-Mauritanian borders at the end of January, which saw the participants agree on “the intensification of security coordination between the two countries”.

Clearly, no coordination took place between the two countries before killing the Mauritanians. The Algerian authorities could have simply arrested them instead of shooting them at close range.

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