Guerguerat

Guerguerat (Arabic: الكركرات, romanized: al-Karkarāt , Moroccan Arabic: گرگرات, Berber languages: ⴳⵔⴳⵔⴰⵜ) is a small village in the far south west of Western Sahara, currently occupied by Morocco.[1][2] Guerguerat is approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) from the border with Mauritania and 5 km (3.1 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean.[3][4] Morocco sees Guerguerat as a strategic barrier protecting the European Union from illegal migration and terrorism, and smuggling.[5]

Guerguerat الكركرات ⴳⵔⴳⵔⴰⵜ
Border crossing in Guerguerat
Guerguerat
Coordinates: 21°25′34″N 16°57′31″W
Territory	Western Sahara
Claimed by	Morocco  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Controlled by	Morocco
Area
• Total	105.73 km2 (40.82 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2004)
• Total	28
• Density	0.26/km2 (0.69/sq mi)

In January 2015, the Polisario established a military presence in La Güera on the seaside, but apparently did not yet start controlling passports of people transiting to Mauritania.[6]

Guerguerat border checkpoint after 2020

The importance of Guerguerat to Morocco lies in two aspects: Moroccan exports of vegetables to Mauritania (especially to Nouadhibou) run through this border station and it is the only way for Moroccans to leave their country by land without a visa to another country. The importance of Guerguerat to the SADR lies in the fact that this is the only location where it can exert pressure on Morocco by isolating it from Mauritania.

Morocco took military action in the area on 13 November 2020, in an attempt to enforce free movement of goods and people between Moroccan-controlled territory and Mauritania. The pro-independence Polisario Front declared an end to the 1991 ceasefire, while Morocco denied there had been any armed clashes between the sides and said the truce remained in place.[7]

The Great Mosque of Guerguerat was opened by Morocco's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs in March 2023 on a budget of 8.8 million dirham, spanning 3,767 square meters and with a total capacity of 500 people.[8][9]

In February 2023, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced the construction of two football fields in Bir Gandouz and Guerguerat.[10][11]