ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

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...

The recent diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers—set against an already fraught French political landscape—have reignited a familiar debate: is there a genuine divergence between President Emmanuel Macron and figures from the republican right, such as Bruno Retailleau, particularly on issues related to Algeria, immigration, and Islam? Upon closer inspection, the perceived opposition appears less ideological than strategic. The Illusion of Divergence At first glance, the rhetoric of Emmanuel Macron and Bruno Retailleau seems markedly different. On one side stands a president who often treads a tightrope in his dealings with Algiers, alternating between gestures of openness and firmness; on the other, a senator from the Republicans (LR) whose tone on immigration and postcolonial relations is more direct—at times even combative. Yet this apparent opposition conceals a fundamental convergence: both advocate a demanding stance towards Algeria and share a desire to reassert French ...

There are narratives we repeat endlessly, slogans waved like banners to seduce, and seduce again—until the lie becomes almost truth. In recent years, Morocco has positioned itself as a supposed champion of Pan-Africanism, multiplying diplomatic gestures, royal visits, and economic agreements across sub-Saharan Africa. But behind this carefully maintained façade, what does this influence strategy truly conceal? How can a kingdom with such an ambiguous foreign policy claim to embody the deep aspirations of the African continent—especially those of the Sahel? Morocco’s Shadow Over the Sahel The Sahelian countries, plagued by terrorism for over a decade, are seeking out various partners in the hope of achieving stability. Among them, Morocco has emerged as a regional interlocutor, claiming to offer its expertise, support, and “African solidarity.” But isn’t it paradoxical—or even cynical—to see Rabat playing the savior in a crisis that, according to several observers, it may have covertl...

Among the members of the Steadfastness and Confrontation Front, created in 1977 to oppose normalization with Israel, only Algeria remains standing. Today, caught between regional pressure, tensions in Western Sahara, and instability in the Sahel, the country faces a renewed campaign of destabilization. This is the chronicle of a stubborn defiance. A Stand Taken in 1977 On December 4, 1977, in Tripoli, the Steadfastness and Confrontation Front was born as a response to Anwar Sadat’s shocking visit to Israel. For much of the Arab world, the Egyptian president’s gesture was seen as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. In response, Algeria, Libya, Syria, South Yemen, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) came together in a resolute rejection of normalization. Forty-seven years later, that front exists only in the annals of diplomacy. Its members have been weakened, overthrown, or thrown into chaos. All, except one: Algeria. A Historic Constant: Algeria’s Loyalty to Its Princip...

The date of August 24, 2021, will remain etched in the annals of Algerian diplomacy as the moment when Algeria, through the voice of Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, announced the severance of its diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Morocco. This decision, described as historic, was not the result of emotional overreaction or an isolated incident. Rather, it represents the culmination of a long series of provocations, recurrent hostilities, and destabilizing attempts, the roots of which trace back to the very founding of the Moroccan monarchy as we know it today. In this solemn declaration, Algeria took a firm and unequivocal stance, no longer viewing Morocco as a brotherly Maghreb neighbour, but as a disruptive actor threatening its stability and that of the broader region. The symbolism of the chosen date — the anniversary of Morocco's accusations against Algeria following the 1994 Marrakech attacks — lends a powerful memorial dimension to Algeria’s decision. I. The "Grea...

For several days now, the media and diplomatic landscape of the Sahel has been roiled by a series of flamboyant statements, the most resounding of which came from former Malian Prime Minister Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maïga. In a speech dated April 9, 2025, he launched a scathing attack against Algeria, accusing it of duplicity in its Sahel policy. But what is this tirade really worth, if not a carefully orchestrated distraction? More importantly, who is pulling the strings behind this African stage play? One truth stands out: those who rail against Algiers are, whether knowingly or not, serving the agendas of powers that have never relinquished their grip on the continent. A Moroccan Attempt to Rewrite African History For several years now, Morocco has been relentlessly active on the African diplomatic front, seeking to portray itself as a benevolent and selfless power. But beneath the polished rhetoric of South-South cooperation and continental integration lies a cold, calculated strateg...

 The recent diplomatic flare-up between Mali and Algeria is far more than a mere border dispute or an isolated military incident. At its core lies a deeper and more strategic struggle—one that revolves around the future of energy in the Sahel and West Africa. The competing visions for this future are embodied in two massive projects: the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), championed by Algeria, and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline. A Crisis That Reveals Regional Fractures In early April 2025, Algeria issued a firm diplomatic note condemning Mali's "baseless allegations" after the Algerian military shot down a Malian drone that had allegedly violated Algerian airspace for the third time since August 2024. Algeria, citing radar evidence, maintained that its response was both measured and necessary. Bamako’s reaction, however, was not limited to protesting the drone incident. The Malian transitional government accused Algeria of colluding with terrorist groups—a ...