Algerian Ex-Diplomat Skeptical of Morocco King’s Diplomatic Overture

"The speech of the King of Morocco Mohammed VI on the occasion of the throne feast evokes the relations with Algeria in the same terms as those of recent years," notes the Algerian diplomat in a statement to TSA. In his eyes, this statement "cannot represent a diplomatic event nor open up prospects". He will recall that tradition and international practices recommend that goodwill or an offer of dialogue be preceded by consequential, qualitative measures commensurate with the stated objective.

The former minister also notes that once again, the sovereign holds Algeria responsible for the failure of Maghreb construction, the poor state of bilateral relations and seeks to lend credence to the feeling of a Morocco victim but willing to dialogue. Furthermore, he notes that the conditions ("hostile acts") that prevailed at the rupture between the two countries are still present and have not been mentioned by King Mohammed VI.

"... The official Morocco is running a demonization operation of Algeria by presenting it as an ally of anti-Western powers and groups and its diplomacy as hostile to American and European interests of which it would be the best defender," estimates the former Algerian ambassador to Spain, citing the campaign against Algeria’s position on the war in Ukraine and Moroccan attempts to involve Algeria in the tensions between Iran, the Gulf countries and Israel, "in which" Algiers "bears no responsibility of any kind whatsoever".

On the bilateral level, Morocco is pursuing "a frankly hostile strategy towards Algeria by seeking to depreciate and falsify our long and rich history, to attack in particular, in its social networks, the presidential institution which it freely designates, as the privileged interlocutor and to wage a systematic war against the Algerian army and its command," Abdelaziz Rahab also accuses.