African Union Urged to Address Western Sahara Tensions as Algeria Criticizes Morocco

Speaking before the Executive Council of the African Union, on the occasion of its 21st extraordinary session, the head of Algerian diplomacy spoke out against what he called the "violations against civilians in the El Guerguerat region", which, according to him, risk threatening "peace and security throughout the region".

After suffering a diplomatic setback on the international scene, Algeria is now trying to rally the Pan-African Organization to its cause, by involving its members in a file where the United Nations Security Council is the sole arbiter. "Faced with these serious developments, our continental organization, which has played a constructive role in the development and adoption of the UN settlement plan, cannot remain on the sidelines," said Sabri Boukadoum.

On December 5 and 6, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union will hold a videoconference meeting, under the theme "Silencing the Guns". The Algerian minister’s statements seem rather a foretaste of the stormy debates that are likely to go against the main theme of the African Summit.