Morocco negotiates the purchase of American SEA Guardian drones, arousing concerns about the potential use of these weapons in the Western Sahara unstable region, where human rights violations have already been reported.
Morocco is in advanced negotiations with the United States for the purchase of ultramodern “Sea Guardian” drones, according to the Spanish media El Periodico de Ceuta. Members of the US Congress should discuss the agreement in the coming days.
The same source published Sunday, May 5, that the US State Department had already given the green light for the sale of four units of these drones in Morocco.
The “MQ-9B Sea Guardian”, manufactured by the American company “General Atomics”, have a range of approximately 11,000 kilometers and can be operated for ground stations. They have 40 -hour flight endurance to altitudes up to 50,000 feet and are able to transport smart bombs and missiles, as well as surveillance and recognition equipment.
This announcement comes when Morocco has been accused of using Israeli weapons to kill civilians, including children in Western Sahara, according to a survey published by the French media humanity in March 2024.
Morocco controls 80% of this disputed territory and offers an autonomy plan under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front requests a self -determination referendum, supported by Algeria. The UN considers Western Sahara as an “non -autonomous territory”.
Israeli drones
Last October, Morocco used Israeli drones manufactured in Smara, a city of more than 66,000 inhabitants under its control. These drones, including the Hermes 900 and the Hermes 450, which can be equipped with air-ground missiles, are produced by Elbit Systems. Morocco also has Turkish drones Bayraktar TB2 and Chinese Wing Loong for combat purposes.
Since the standardization of relations between Israel and Morocco in 2020, the two countries have strengthened their cooperation, especially in the field of defense. In 2023, Elbit Systems announced the opening of two drone factories in Morocco.
According to the president of the Association of Families of Prisoners and missing Sahrawi, around 30,000 people have been moved by force in the past three years due to Moroccan attacks, fueling an ethnic cleaning policy.
International observers fear that the acquisition of ultramodern drones by Morocco will lead to an escalation of violence in the region.
