ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

Relations between Algeria and Morocco during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962) were far more complex than the romanticized narrative of “Maghrebian unity” often promoted in Moroccan historiography. A recent publication titled “The Algerian War of Liberation in the Moroccan Press: Aspects of Moroccan Support for the Algerian Struggle for Independence”, authored by Mustapha El Aïdi and Abdelilah Kenka, aims to portray Morocco as a key supporter of the Algerian Revolution. However, this interpretation overlooks the historical realities, minimizes Morocco’s ambivalent and often opportunistic stance, and overstates the actual impact of its so-called support. This academic article responds point by point to the claims made in that publication, relying on Algerian, French, and international sources, as well as testimonies from leaders of the Algerian Revolution. 1. The Moroccan Press: Symbolic Sympathy or Opportunistic Coverage? The publication argues that Moroccan newspapers such ...

From a Naval Miscalculation to a Strategic Catastrophe – A Reflection on a Long Legacy of Neglecting Vital Interests On October 20, 1827, the Battle of Navarino unfolded in a small bay off the southwestern Peloponnese (in present-day Greece), significantly altering the balance of power in the Mediterranean. Yet, for Algerians, the true significance lies not solely in the military events of that day, but in the deeper question of how Algeria—then an autonomous maritime power under nominal Ottoman suzerainty—became entangled in a war that did not concern it directly, ultimately paying a staggering strategic price from which it would not recover for more than a century. 1. Historical and Political Context of the Battle of Navarino The early 19th century witnessed a surge of national liberation movements across Europe, among them the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule, which broke out in 1821. This uprising gained widespread support from European powers, who saw it as an opport...

In recent days, international headlines have celebrated what is being portrayed as yet another “diplomatic victory” for Morocco, following the United Kingdom’s shift in tone on the Western Sahara issue. London, it appears, now implicitly supports Rabat’s autonomy proposal. This development echoes similar realignments in several Western capitals. But behind this diplomatic fanfare lies a stark reality: Morocco’s so-called victories are not achievements of principle or legitimacy, but rather the result of calculated concessions—economic, strategic, and political—offered to powerful states in exchange for their endorsement. Morocco’s Bargain: Trading Sovereignty for Support Let us be clear: what Rabat presents as foreign support for its autonomy plan is, in most cases, the outcome of transactional diplomacy. What has Morocco promised to the United Kingdom? Access to the natural resources of Western Sahara? Exclusive investment deals or security partnerships? The same applies to the cases ...

In a surreal segment aired on France Inter, journalist Léa Salamé flippantly suggested a grotesque “exchange”: trading the 9,000 skulls of Algerian men and women stored in Paris’ Musée de l’Homme for the supposed “liberation” of the controversial writer Boualem Sansal. This offhand remark, delivered with alarming nonchalance, betrays a profound ignorance of colonial history, a troubling contempt for Algerian memory, and an indecency that demands condemnation. When ‘Humor’ Becomes an Insult to the Dead What does such a suggestion truly signify? That even in death, decapitated and displaced, Algerian bodies may still be used as bargaining chips? That a mutilated national memory can be reduced to a rhetorical device in a radio broadcast? Behind this tasteless comment lies an unspeakable idea: the remains of anti-colonial resistance fighters, displayed as trophies by a former empire, are still treated as negotiable objects of French discretion. A Colonial Memory Still Denied The 9,000 sku...

More than three years ago, I raised the alarm about a dangerous possibility: the existence of underground tunnels between Morocco and Algeria used for large-scale drug trafficking. At the time, my warnings were dismissed, mocked, or labeled as “conspiracy theories.” Today, that so-called “theory” has emerged from the shadows—quite literally. According to credible media sources, a secret tunnel has been discovered linking Moroccan territory to the Bab El Assa region in Algeria’s Tlemcen province. This tunnel was allegedly used to smuggle significant quantities of processed cannabis (kif)—a product the Moroccan regime has long weaponized to destabilize Algeria. And this isn’t an isolated case. Just a few months ago, a similar tunnel was uncovered in the occupied city of Ceuta, used by Moroccan-Spanish smuggling networks to traffic both drugs and migrants. These are not coincidences. This points to a coordinated and well-established underground infrastructure, most likely developed with t...

On May 2nd, 2025, behind the closed doors of Abu Dhabi’s presidential palace, a high-level security meeting took place—not to discuss peace, but to plot an attack. Not a military assault, but a strategic, silent war targeting the political and media heart of one nation: Algeria. Presiding over this covert war council was Tahnoun bin Zayed , the shadowy mastermind of Emirati intelligence. Alongside him: Mohammed Al Gergawi , in charge of media influence operations; Saeed Al Ghafli , responsible for intelligence coordination; and foreign consultants from the American firm GSG , a private contractor known for information warfare and strategic psychological operations. The mission was given a chilling codename: “Disrupt Algeria.” Why Algeria? Because Algeria refuses to kneel. Because it acts with independence in Sudan, partners with Turkey and Qatar, and openly opposes Emirati interference in Libya. In Tahnoun’s own words during the meeting: “Algeria is moving in Darfur, aligning with Tur...

A recent article published by Assahifa, a Moroccan outlet known for its close ties to the ruling elite in Rabat, inadvertently sheds light on one of the most significant geopolitical shifts in the Maghreb in decades: the entry into service of Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets in Algeria — one of the most advanced combat aircraft of our time. In an article titled “After Being Rejected by Egypt and Iran… Satellite Images Reveal the Presence of Su-35 Fighters in Algeria”, the Moroccan media outlet delves into the arrival of these jets at an Algerian airbase with a tone that is both alarmist and revealing. While emphasizing that these aircraft had previously been turned down by Egypt and Iran, the piece unintentionally unveils deeper Moroccan anxieties — both military and diplomatic. The Su-35: A Game Changer That Has Rabat Trembling Originally destined for Egypt, the Su-35 jets were ultimately acquired by Algeria after Cairo backed out under Western pressure. Known for their exceptional ag...

On April 18, 2025, the World Bank published an insightful article titled “How Algeria is Shaping its Economic Future” , offering a nuanced yet clearly optimistic perspective on the country’s ongoing economic transformation. Long regarded as a hydrocarbon-dependent, mono-export economy, Algeria now appears to be at a historic crossroads. At the heart of this shift lies an ambitious target set by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune: reaching a Gross Domestic Product of $400 billion by 2027. A Diversification Strategy in Motion The figures released by the World Bank are telling: non-hydrocarbon exports have tripled since 2017, reaching $5.1 billion in 2023. Though they still represent just 2% of GDP, this trend signals a critical shift in Algeria’s economic model, one that is moving away from structural dependence on oil and gas. Among the country’s most exported goods are now fertilizers, steel products, and cement — a reflection of a deliberate strategy rooted in wide-ranging structural r...

New York, April 16, 2025. In the solemn chamber of the United Nations Security Council, a man takes the floor. With composure, precision, and a measured gravitas, Staffan de Mistura , the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, delivers a briefing that, according to several diplomats present, may well mark a turning point in the protracted Sahrawi dossier. This report comes at a highly charged moment: fifty years after Spain’s withdrawal from Western Sahara in 1975, the question of decolonization remains unresolved, frozen in a status quo that only a crisis—or a concerted international awakening—might shake loose. For the first time in a long while, such a shift now appears within reach. A Diplomatic Trilogy at the Core of the Report Three key messages emerge from De Mistura’s address—three pillars that reflect both the current posture of the United States and shifting power dynamics within the Security Council. 1. Toward “Genuine” Autonomy: A Call for Clari...

For several months now, relations between Algiers and Paris have been caught in a storm of unprecedented turbulence since Algeria’s independence. While international observers speculate on the root causes of this deterioration, Algerian diplomatic sources based in Paris assert that the crisis was not only foreseeable but had long been anticipated, analyzed, and documented. According to these diplomats, the roots of this rupture run deep, stemming from a deliberate and methodical strategy orchestrated by powerful circles within the very heart of the French state apparatus. Ignored Warnings Confidential diplomatic reports, excerpts of which were recently leaked according to El Khabar and Algérie Patriotique , point to a series of warnings issued by Algeria’s embassy in Paris over more than a decade. These documents, addressed to senior authorities in Algiers, detail a range of maneuvers led by what diplomats describe as “hostile circles” within French institutions. These groups, acco...

April 16, 2025 — Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, delivered a rare and substantial briefing before the Security Council. His report comes at a critical juncture, marked by significant bilateral diplomatic movements, yet overshadowed by a fifty-year-old political deadlock. With a tone both measured and resolute, De Mistura outlines a situation mired in stagnation, yet fraught with potential triggers—some promising hope, others bearing risk. Bilateral Dynamics Shrouded in Ambiguity The report opens by highlighting two key bilateral developments: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita’s visit to Washington on April 8, and his French counterpart Stéphane Barrot’s visit to Algiers two days earlier. Although the Western Sahara issue was not officially on the agenda, the visits reflect renewed attention from two permanent members of the Security Council—namely the United States and France—to regional stability. Of particular note is the U...