As Morocco’s Autonomy Plan continues to gather international support, Algeria stands increasingly alone in opposing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Doha – French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly read the letter recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune before its public release on July 30, 2024, according to Franco-Algerian journalist Mohamed Sifaoui.
During an appearance on journalist Abdou Semmar’s YouTube channel, Sifaoui revealed that Macron “played total transparency” with Tebboune.
“Macron read the letter. I can certify that he read to him, during a one-on-one meeting, the letter that he was going to make public on July 30, 2024,” Sifaoui stated.
The journalist criticized French officials’ handling of relations with Algeria, particularly regarding the Western Sahara issue.
“Emmanuel Macron was wrong to trust Abdelmadjid Tebboune,” Sifaou said. “He played the memory question game until the end, he was in his logic, he tested, and that’s why there was this reversal of the French diplomatic position.”
Sifaoui elaborated that French officials realized “the Algerians – I’m talking about the Algerian regime – were making fun of them,” adding that “it’s always frustrating for someone who trusts you and realizes you’re mocking them.”
In the letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, the French president stressed that Paris’ position is that “the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
Even before the official announcement, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry had condemned France’s decision as “unexpected, untimely, and counterproductive.”
The ministry claimed the move “evidently stems from dubious political calculations, morally questionable preconceptions, and legal interpretations that have no basis and no justification.”
The diplomatic tension reached a crescendo at the UN Security Council on October 31, 2024, when Algerian Ambassador Amar Ben Jamaa delivered what observers described as an unprecedented outburst, directly challenging both the United States and France over their support for Morocco’s position.
The diplomatic crisis has since intensified, with Algeria twice summoning the French ambassador to Algiers.
Sifaoui elaborated that French officials realized “the Algerians – I’m talking about the Algerian regime – were making fun of them,” adding that “it’s always frustrating for someone who trusts you and realizes you’re mocking them.”
In the letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, the French president stressed that Paris’ position is that “the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
Even before the official announcement, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry had condemned France’s decision as “unexpected, untimely, and counterproductive.”
The ministry claimed the move “evidently stems from dubious political calculations, morally questionable preconceptions, and legal interpretations that have no basis and no justification.”
The diplomatic tension reached a crescendo at the UN Security Council on October 31, 2024, when Algerian Ambassador Amar Ben Jamaa delivered what observers described as an unprecedented outburst, directly challenging both the United States and France over their support for Morocco’s position.
The diplomatic crisis has since intensified, with Algeria twice summoning the French ambassador to Algiers.
President Tebboune is still seething over the decision. In a December 2024 speech, he attempted to discredit Morocco’s autonomy initiative by claiming it was “a French idea, not a Moroccan one.”
In the same month, Algeria accused French intelligence services of “hostile actions,” including alleged involvement in “destabilizing activities” and “attempts to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Algeria.”
The ambassador was summoned again in January over alleged “discriminatory treatment” of Algerian citizens at Paris airports.
In a recent interview with L’Opinion, President Tebboune escalated tensions further by declaring that the “climate” between the two countries is “toxic” and that “we are wasting time with President Macron.”
He revealed that he had warned Macron during a 2.5-hour meeting at the G7 Summit in Baru, saying “You are making a serious mistake! You will gain nothing, and you will lose us.”
Tebboune acknowledged that bilateral relations are now frozen, stating that “nothing is moving forward except commercial relations. Political dialogue is nearly interrupted.” He accused French authorities of making “hostile statements” against his country “every day.”
This diplomatic crisis comes as Morocco gains increasing international support for its position, with more than 110 countries now backing its autonomy plan for Western Sahara, including over 20 EU nations.
Meanwhile, Algeria continues to support the Polisario Front’s separatist claims, providing the group with financial support, weapons, and military training, yet finds itself increasingly isolated on the issue.
BY: The Times Union
