Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVII, Part 3, North Africa

258. Memorandum From Secretary of State Muskie to President Carter¹

Washington, August 4, 1980

[Omitted here is material unrelated to the Western Sahara.]

3. Moroccan “Hot Pursuit” Doctrine Denied; Mauritanian Accusations: Ambassador Duke has raised the question of Moroccan “hot pursuit” policy with Hassan’s Royal Counselor Guedira,² pursuant to instructions we sent him last week after learning that Moroccan aircraft violated Algerian airspace.³ Guedira “affirmed unequivocally that Morocco’s policy had not changed”; that Morocco had not heretofore exercised the right to hot pursuit and did not now intend to do so; and that Hassan would not do anything vis-a-vis Algeria that would make it harder for the Algerians to begin talks with Morocco.

Meanwhile, Mauritanian authorities and media have been hotly accusing Morocco of an unprovoked air attack against Mauritanian territory on July 29.⁴ Their story has shifted several times both as to the location of the attack and the damage, but an onsite inspection by our Charge in Nouakchott lends credence to the view that ordnance struck ground up to 6 km inside Mauritanian territory. The Moroccan action was apparently limited to a couple of strafing runs close to Mauritania’s border with the western Sahara. The Mauritanians have chosen to make a major issue of it. They withdrew their Ambassador from Rabat last weekend. Morocco has categorically denied that any such attack took place.

In Nouakchott, President Haidalla protested vigorously to our Charge over the use of U.S. arms in Moroccan aggression, since unexploded rockets allegedly found after the “attack” were of U.S. origin, as confirmed by our Charge’s onsite inspection.⁵

Whatever the facts (and we may never know for sure), the Mauritanian outcry seems designed essentially to whip up anti-Moroccan sentiment and perhaps set the stage for steps to tilt Mauritanian “neutrality” in the west Saharan dispute closer to pro-Polisario, pro-Algerian positions.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to the Western Sahara.]

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 23, Evening Reports (State): 8/80. Secret.
2. See Document 257.
3. See Document 256.
4. In telegram 2851 from Nouakchott, July 30, the Embassy reported on the Mauritanian accusations. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800364–1125)
5. In telegram 2903 from Nouakchott, August 2, Chargé Schrager reported on his meeting with Haidalla. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800370–0782)