ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

Despite the media theatrics and diplomatic posturing of the Moroccan regime, the Sahrawi cause has once again triumphed on the international stage, reaffirming that truth and justice will always outlive the illusions of expansionism and occupation. The 2024 annual informational report of the UN Security Council, presented to the General Assembly, has once again exposed the Moroccan narrative and effectively buried the so-called “autonomy plan.” The Moroccan permanent representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, responded with theatrical outrage, unable to mask the sting of a diplomatic defeat. His protest, thinly veiled in official language, is nothing more than a confession of failure — the failure of a strategy built on misinformation, manipulation, and the politics of coercion.   The Mirage of Autonomy Crumbles Before International Law Despite the illusions fed to Rabat by political sponsors such as Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Pedro Sánchez, the Morocc...

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 compelling op-ed published on May 28, 2025, in The Washington Times, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton reignited the debate over one of the world’s most neglected and unresolved territorial disputes: Western Sahara. With China and Russia expanding their influence across Africa, Bolton argues that now is the time for the United States to reassert its commitment to international law and democratic principles by supporting a long-delayed referendum for the Sahrawi people. A Frozen Conflict Since the 1970s Stretching along the northwest coast of Africa, south of Morocco, Western Sahara remains a non-self-governing territory—the last colonial question on the African continent. When Spain abruptly withdrew from the territory in 1975 following the death of General Franco, both Morocco and Mauritania moved in to fill the vacuum. In response, the native Sahrawi population organized under the Polisario Front and began armed resistance, with Algeria offering political ...

In the obscure twists and turns of Moroccan intelligence, a new episode – pathetic as much as revealing – has been added to the long list of clumsy maneuvers by an institution more adept at political tinkering than enlightened strategy. The General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED), visibly disoriented by the kingdom's repeated diplomatic failures on the Sahrawi issue, ventured to fabricate a supposed Syrian document. This document was meant to support the idea of a collusion between the Polisario Front and the Islamic Republic of Iran – a fanciful alliance, tailor-made to provoke international indignation. But this attempt to associate the Sahrawi movement with Tehran or Hezbollah is nothing new. Morocco has been trying for years to portray the Polisario as an unsavory group, hoping to pass it off as a terrorist organization. This repetitive and desperate strategy of disinformation stems from a realization of impotence: Rabat is out of arguments in a conflict where i...

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...

Following the report presented on April 16, 2025, by Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Special Envoy, who solemnly urged Morocco to further clarify its autonomy proposal—a sparse document of just 35 articles spread over barely four and a half pages—Rabat responded with notable, almost embarrassed, reticence. In the analysis that follows, we rigorously and precisely highlight the real reasons preventing the long-awaited clarification. For contrary to the official narrative that describes the plan as “serious” and “credible,” it does not withstand either a thorough legal examination or the fundamental principles of international law. The Western Sahara conflict, long classified on the United Nations agenda as a decolonization issue, remains one of the most sensitive and pivotal matters for the stability of the Maghreb region and beyond. In 2007, Morocco put forward an “Initiative for Negotiating an Autonomy Statute,” intended to serve as the cornerstone of a final settlement. Yet be...

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...

Relations between Algeria and France are facing a major diplomatic storm, exacerbated by Paris’ recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024. This decision, which aligns with France’s continued support for Morocco, has been perceived by Algiers as a direct threat to its strategic interests and a challenge to its long-standing position on the Sahrawi issue. In response, Algeria has recalled its ambassador from France, marking a sharp break with Paris. This strong diplomatic move reflects growing frustration over what is seen as France’s increasingly pronounced alignment with Morocco’s stance. A Firm Algerian Stance Like Never Before While some observers, particularly on the Moroccan side, have interpreted recent statements by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as a sign of a softening Algerian position on Western Sahara, the reality is quite the opposite. Far from any shift, these statements underscore a deliberate and resolute strengthening of Algeria’s stance. By...

Faithful to my principles, I have neither the habit of appropriating others’ ideas nor engaging in plagiarism. I must therefore clarify that the subject of this article is not the result of my own reflection but rather that of a dear friend, an expert in military and security affairs, with whom I recently had a discussion. As I do not have his permission to mention his name, I will respect his anonymity. Nevertheless, I extend my sincere gratitude to him for his unwavering patriotism and the sharpness of his analyses. I deeply regret that the political and military leaders of our country do not pay greater attention to such enlightened minds, whose counsel would be of inestimable value. For several decades, Morocco has carved out a unique position in the media and diplomatic war it wages against Algeria and the Polisario Front. At the crossroads of geopolitics and historical rivalries, Rabat has mastered the art of victimization and narrative manipulation, adopting the posture of a mod...

French politics has long been shaped by statesmen with strategic vision and the ability to navigate complex international relations with intelligence and diplomacy. The world still remembers Dominique de Villepin’s iconic 2003 speech at the United Nations, where he eloquently defended France’s opposition to the Iraq War, or Roland Dumas, a seasoned diplomat who, despite controversies, mastered the intricacies of geopolitical power dynamics. Today, with figures like Jean-Noël Barrot, the contrast is stark. As the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Barrot represents a new generation of technocratic politicians who lack the depth, experience, and strategic foresight of their predecessors. His recent remarks on BFMTV , where he stated that France had already imposed sanctions on Algeria and was prepared to escalate them if Algeria did not comply, reflect a reckless and counterproductive diplomatic approach. A Dangerous Diplomatic Escalation Tensions between France and Algeria are noth...