Algeria Rejects Moroccan Aid Amid Wildfires, Deepening Regional Tensions

On the instructions of King Mohammed VI, two Canadair aircraft were mobilized to help Algeria, which is fighting the fires. The Algerian authorities have not, for the time being, given their approval. "The rivalry between the two countries is very old, almost since independence. Add to that the statements, a few weeks ago, of representatives of Morocco to the UN, to echo a bit the battle being waged by the two countries over the Sahara, who called for self-determination for the Kabyles. So there is this rivalry and a diplomatic one-upmanship, a one-upmanship of words which today hinders relations and regional integration, Maghreb integration in a context, we see it today, which is still tragic," explains political scientist Kader Abderrahim to France Info.

According to him, the issue is more political than humanitarian, despite the urgency. "It is today very political, very diplomatic. We can see that Algeria is completely overwhelmed both by the tragedy of the forest fires which we are witnessing, powerless, but also overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a matter of managing forest fires, as well as everything else in this country," he explains further. The director of research at the Institute for Foresight and Security in Europe points out that "Algeria is burning." "It is clear that diplomatic isolation and political deadlock have not allowed the Algerian regime to react as it should have, or to anticipate. Because Algeria has been concerned about this for a very long time," he adds.