Algeria Condemns French Minister’s Visit to Disputed Western Sahara

At odds with France since it recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara last October, Algeria believes that with this visit by Rachida Dati, Paris persists in its "blatant contempt for international law". In a statement quoted by Europa Press, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that the decolonization process of the Sahrawi people is not complete.

The Algerian authorities have denounced this "reprehensible in more ways than one" trip by Rachida Dati to the Sahara, arguing that "in doing so, the French government is once again disqualifying itself and isolating itself from the actions of the United Nations to accelerate the settlement of the Western Sahara conflict".

The French Minister of Moroccan (and Algerian) origin took the opportunity of her visit to reiterate Paris’ support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. "This is a symbolic, historic moment and a written commitment: the present and future of this region are under Moroccan sovereignty and this is indisputable," she said in a statement to the press.