Algeria-Morocco ties have reached ‘point of no return’

The North African neighbors have been locked in a bitter rivalry for decades over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

Algeria’s relations with Morocco have reached a “point of no return”, according to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the latest evidence of continuing poor relations between the two countries, which broke ties in 2021.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in an interview on Tuesday, Tebboune said that while he regretted the deteriorating relations between Algeria and its neighboring countries, he blamed Morocco for the current situation.

“We have practically reached the point of no return,” said Tebboune, who became president in 2019 after the resignation of longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika. “Our position is a response [to Morocco’s actions]we were never meant to start [the problem],

The North African countries have been locked in a bitter rivalry for decades over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Algiers supports the armed Polisario movement that seeks independence for Western Sahara, a region Rabat claims as its own.

Polisario separatists took up arms in the 1970s and continue to demand an independence referendum based on the 1991 deal that included a ceasefire.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramatane Lamamra announced the break of diplomatic relations in August 2021, following rising tensions over the dispute.

normalization with israel

In addition to differences over Western Sahara, Algeria and Morocco differ in their position towards Israel.

In his interview, Tebboune emphasized his country’s support for Palestine and stated that Algeria views the issue as a domestic issue.

Algeria does not recognize Israel, while Morocco and Israel agree to normalize relations In December 2020 in a deal with the help of the United States.

As part of the agreement, then US President Donald Trump agreed to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. since morocco demanded Israel took these steps before Rabat opened an embassy in Tel Aviv.

spanish arbitration

Tebboune also vented his anger towards Spain in the interview, which he accused of being biased towards Morocco.

He said that the Spanish government had forgotten its role as a former colonial power in Western Sahara and that it still bears the responsibility to resolve the issue.

Western Sahara Was a Spanish colony until 1975. Morocco then took control of a vast area of ​​desert on Africa’s Atlantic coast, slightly larger in size than the United Kingdom, in a move that was not recognized internationally.

International recognition of its control of Western Sahara is an important goal for the Moroccan government, which left the African Union in 1984 in protest of Polisario’s recognition by the organization. Morocco joined the continental body only in 2016.

Spain has maintained a neutral position on the issue for decades, but in March last year Madrid Endorsed a 2007 resolution by Morocco to offer Western Sahara autonomy under its sovereignty, describing it as “the most serious, realistic and credible basis” for ending the long-running conflict.

Algeria recalled its ambassador from Madrid in protest, and then a few months later suspended a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain.