ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

Beyond the silent palm groves and the wadis with contested names, the Algerian-Moroccan border remains one of the places where history, law, and security intersect with the greatest intensity. Ksar Ich , following El Arja and Oued Zelmou , is not an accident: it is a symptom. A symptom of a line inherited and legally recognized, yet materially incomplete; and also of a discreet but constant front against cross-border trafficking that undermines sovereignty and threatens regional stability. A Border Episode Laden with Symbolism The events reported in early February 2026 in the Ksar Ich sector, on the edge of Figuig , immediately stirred collective memory. Placement of markers, removal of fences, nocturnal aerial shots—the sequence, primarily reported by Moroccan media, was described as a “provocation.” On the Algerian side, there were no loud political statements, no verbal escalations. Only a constant: the securing of the national border amidst heightened criminal pressures. It is im...

In Mohammed VI – The Mystery , Thierry Oberlé conducts a dense and perceptive investigation into one of the most enigmatic monarchs of the contemporary world. Through thirty years of observations, interviews, and on‑the‑ground reporting, the journalist reveals a paradoxical figure: a king who appears modern, yet remains the heir to an absolute power shaped by centuries of Sharifian monarchy. The book is at once an intimate portrait, a political deep dive, and a narrative of Morocco’s ambiguous transformation. A discreet, elusive, yet omnipresent sovereign Mohammed VI is a mysterious king, nearly silent in the media. He gives no interviews, never improvises, and keeps his distance from political debates. His authority rests more on sacredness, monarchical symbolism, religious heritage, and the staging of power than on public expression. The book describes a monarch uncomfortable with the day‑to‑day exercise of power, preferring to delegate to historical advisers (El Himma, Majidi, Manso...

The dual launch of operations at the Gara Djebilet mine and the 950‑kilometre Tindouf–Béchar railway line has triggered an unusual wave of reactions, emotions, and commentary—far beyond economic and technical circles. This surge is neither random nor exaggerated: it reflects issues of sovereignty, historical memory, regional propaganda, and strategic projection that go far beyond the simple scope of an infrastructure project. 1. A project that cracks an old irredentist narrative For decades, part of the Moroccan propaganda machine —carried by media outlets close to the royal palace—has promoted the idea of an alleged “Moroccan identity” of the Algerian wilayas of Béchar and Tindouf . This narrative deliberately ignores international legal realities, including the 1972 Algeria–Morocco border treaty , which has been ratified, registered, and submitted to the United Nations . Yet Algeria does more than simply assert its rights: it brings them to life on the ground. By investing billions ...

The partial withdrawal of U.S. naval vessels from the Persian Gulf has largely been interpreted, within mainstream discourse, as a mere tactical adjustment or a circumstantial decision tied to the routine management of military deployments. A closer reading of regional strategic dynamics, however, suggests a far more complex reality. The simultaneous presence of Russian and Chinese ships participating in joint military exercises with Iran played a decisive role in this decision, offering the Trump administration a strategic exit from a growing military and political deadlock. An American Strategic Deadlock vis‑à‑vis Iran Following the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement (JCPOA) and the implementation of the so‑called “maximum pressure” strategy, Washington multiplied coercive signals toward Tehran: expanded economic sanctions, reinforced military deployments in the Gulf, and an openly bellicose rhetoric. Yet this verbal escalation never translated into a credible or su...

For several months now, a well‑identified group of Moroccan commentators—among them Rachid Achichi and other self‑proclaimed “experts” in economics and geopolitics—has been devoting disproportionate energy to challenging the way Algeria’s GDP is calculated. This repetitive and often approximate fixation says less about Algeria’s economic reality than about Morocco’s strategic unease in the face of shifting regional power dynamics. 1. Algeria’s GDP: a controlled accounting framework, not a political invention Contrary to the recurring insinuations, Algeria’s GDP is neither improvised data nor an ideological construction. It is established in accordance with the System of National Accounts (SNA), a universal international framework, and is subject to external audits, verifications and validations conducted by international financial institutions. The more accurate integration of the informal economy —common practice in most emerging countries—is a methodological rebasing exercise, not...

The Gara Djebilet iron ore project has, for some commentators, become a convenient symbol of what they portray as Algeria’s inability to execute large‑scale industrial undertakings. Their central argument is now familiar: the high phosphorus content of the ore would make the project economically unviable . This claim, repeated confidently, does not withstand either technical scrutiny or serious economic analysis. It reflects an outdated understanding of modern mining , rather than an informed assessment of the project’s industrial logic. Phosphorus: A Known and Anticipated Technical Challenge — Not a Structural Obstacle It is true that the ore at Gara Djebilet contains a higher phosphorus content than what is typically acceptable in standard steelmaking. However, in contemporary mining, such constraints are neither unusual nor prohibitive. Processes for phosphorus removal — advanced magnetic separation, direct reduction, selective roasting, thermochemical treatments — are well-estab...