ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

When Historical Ignorance Becomes a Geopolitical Weapon Tahar Ben Jelloun’s recent intervention in Le Figaro purports to offer a literary testimony; in reality, it is a discursive strategy meticulously aligned with the geopolitical imperatives of the makhzen . By exploiting the singular case of Boualem Sansal, Ben Jelloun claims to shed light on Algeria’s political history; yet what he truly reveals is this: the unwavering determination of the Moroccan literary lobby to instrumentalize memory and literature in order to weaken Algeria and serve the interests of the royal palace. This analysis is framed within a perspective that asserts Algeria’s national sovereignty—both historical and contemporary—and categorically rejects the Moroccan and Franco-colonial narratives that Ben Jelloun reproduces without nuance. 1. A Voice Undermined by Silence on Moroccan Repression Let us state the obvious: Tahar Ben Jelloun is not a neutral observer of the Maghreb. While Algeria stood alone again...

The announcement of a presidential pardon for Boualem Sansal has stirred surprise, debate, and indignation across Algeria. The Franco-Algerian writer, sentenced to five years in prison for statements deemed harmful to national unity, will be transferred to Germany for medical treatment at the express request of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While the gesture appears rooted in humanitarian considerations, it in fact unveils a complex diplomatic web where principles of sovereignty, European power balances, and political calculations intersect. A Humanitarian Gesture with Multiple Diplomatic Readings Officially, the presidential decision is framed as a “humanitarian” response to a German request. Boualem Sansal, elderly and in poor health, would thus benefit from a medical transfer in a spirit of clemency and openness. Yet seasoned observers know that behind this façade lies a far subtler game of influence. For months, Paris had sought Sansal’s release, multiplying diplomatic and ...

In recent months, Moroccan media outlets and circles close to the Makhzen have multiplied claims suggesting that Morocco harbors an alleged intention to “occupy” the Algerian cities of Béchar and Tindouf — as if these regions were disputed territories. No Moroccan official has ever made such a statement, yet Rabat insists on nurturing this illusion. How can one explain these recurring provocations, especially when the military, diplomatic, and historical balance of power clearly favors Algeria? To understand this phenomenon, one must analyze it through historical, psychological, and geopolitical lenses. 1. A Historical Complex Rooted in Defeat and Rivalry Tension between Algeria and Morocco has deep roots that go back to the post-independence era. The Moroccan monarchy believed that an independent Algeria would remain “grateful” to Rabat for its alleged support during the war of liberation. Instead, it witnessed the emergence of a sovereign, revolutionary Algeria, proudly asserting its...

For several years, the Kingdom of Morocco has pursued a deliberate policy of provocation and hostility toward Algeria — a policy that extends far beyond rhetoric into tangible acts affecting Algeria’s water, environment, and social fabric. While Rabat sheds crocodile tears over the suspension of the Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline, it has in fact been waging a silent war against Algeria through water deprivation, environmental pollution, and the export of narcotics — forming a coherent strategy aimed at undermining Algeria’s national security and stability. 1. Dams on the Border — A Deliberate Water War Along the western border, Morocco has built dozens of dams on rivers and streams that flow naturally into Algerian territory. These constructions, undertaken without coordination or bilateral agreements, have caused an environmental disaster in the Béchar region. The reduced flow of the Guir River has directly threatened the Djorf Torba Dam, one of Algeria’s most vital reservoirs in the sou...

In its recent PolicyWatch, the Washington Institute presents the enticing prospect of a sixty-day “peace deal,” elevating the Western Sahara file as the sole key to regional de-escalation . Such a vision, while rhetorically appealing, reflects a shallow understanding of Maghrebi realities. It confuses rivalry with war — though Algiers and Rabat are not at war — and reduces a structural, decades-long antagonism that predates 1975 to a single issue: Western Sahara. Even the note itself concedes that bilateral relations are at a “historic low” without being warlike, which makes the sixty-day ultimatum more of a performative gesture than a viable diplomatic timetable. A State Rivalry Rooted in Memory, Borders, and Security From Algeria’s standpoint, the American “diplomatic clock” ignores the historical underpinnings of the dispute: the Sand War (1963–64), the colonial legacy of unclarified borders, successive cycles of tension and freeze — including the land border closure since 1994 — an...

November 1st, a date sacred to Algeria as it commemorates the Revolution, found an unexpected echo on British soil this year. On that day, an ordinary man, Samir Zitouni , 48, an employee of London North Eastern Railway (LNER) , became a hero. Faced with terror unleashed by a knife-wielding attacker aboard a train from Doncaster to London, he risked his life to save others. His act of bravery prevented a massacre and turned this Algerian-born man into a universal symbol of humanity and courage. A Life Shaped by Timeless Values Born in Algeria, Samir—known as “Sam” to his colleagues—grew up in a culture rooted in hospitality and solidarity. These values traveled with him when he emigrated to the United Kingdom as a young man. He quickly integrated into Britain’s multicultural fabric, mastering the language and earning respect through professionalism and kindness. Today, British media praise him as a man of integrity and compassion. Married and a devoted father, Samir led a quiet life...