Four people are in detention following clashes a week ago with law enforcement in Smara, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) announced on Friday.

According to its local officials, they are four young adults, some of whom are known for their activism. They were arrested on Monday and Tuesday, then incarcerated in Laâyoune.

According to the MAP agency, they are being prosecuted for “armed gathering at night” or even “incitement to violence, rebellion, and premeditated assault and battery against officials”.

At the beginning of last week, Moroccan media reported “violent clashes” in the preceding days between separatist protesters and law enforcement in Smara, a city of about 50,000 inhabitants.

Between 26 and 48 police officers were injured in these clashes, according to the daily newspapers Al-Massae and Assabah.

The four Sahrawis arrested in Smara will be tried at the same time as the six people recently arrested in Laâyoune for “violence against law enforcement”, specified the head of the AMDH in Laâyoune, Hamoud Iguilid.

Several pro-independence demonstrations took place in late April and early May in the Sahara, following the UN Security Council vote extending the mandate of its mission, MINURSO, without including the issue of human rights. The violence on the sidelines of these gatherings resulted in dozens of injuries.

It should be recalled that in recent months, the UN has insisted on the “urgency” of a settlement, due to the instability in the Sahel.