Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum and Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation Nasser Bourita on Saturday to follow up on developments in Guerguerat, a village in the Western Sahara, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
The pro-independence Polisario Front had declared a three-decade ceasefire in the disputed area in the Western Sahara over on Friday after reported clashes with Moroccan troops, who launched an operation to reopen a road to neighbouring Mauritania.
However, Bourita denied there were clashes, saying the army had only fired warning shots.
"Morocco is committed to the ceasefire," he told Reuters.
The move, according to AFP, has sparked alarm, with UN chief Antonio Guterres expressing "grave concerns", while Algeria, Mauritania and France urged restraint.
The official Spokesperson of Egypt’s foreign ministry Ahmed Hafez said in the statement that Egypt “continues to closely follow up” on the situation.
Egypt continues, Hafez said, to make the necessary calls to preserve stability, based on its responsibility towards its Arab brothers, safeguard their interests and avoid regional tensions.
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