The Polisario Front denounced in a statement released, Wednesday, the opening of a Gambian consulate in the city of Dakhla. The separatist movement described Gambia's decision as «a flagrant violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international decisions». This statement comes as Algeria released a similar statement denouncing the opening of the Gambian consulate, which was inaugurated on Tuesday. Last month, the Union of the Comoros inaugurated a consulate general in Laayoune, following in the footsteps of Cote d'Ivoire. In June 2019, the West African country opened an honorary consulate in Laayoune to cover the regions of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab. «At least four African countries will open consulates in Laayoune» before the end of 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita said in December. The separatist movement and Algeria denounced, at the time, the opening of a Comoros consulate in Laayoune, saying that it is a «violation of all international pacts, particularly the Constitutive Act of the African Union».
