Anger in Algeria after the visit of the French ambassador to the Sahara

The Algerian daily Echorouk, known for its proximity to the authorities, reacted strongly to the recent visit of the French ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, to the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla, in the Moroccan Sahara. Describing this trip as a "point of no return" and a "line crossed", the newspaper denounces a "provocation" towards Algeria, which supports the Sahrawi independence cause.

According to "Echorouk", this visit, the first by a senior European diplomat to this region, confirms the total rupture between Algiers and Paris. The newspaper stresses that France, despite the existing tensions with Algeria, fully assumes its position in favor of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

From November 11 to 13, Christophe Lecourtier, accompanied by a delegation from the embassy, visited Laâyoune and Dakhla to concretize Franco-Moroccan cooperation in the cultural, economic and educational fields. "Our wish is to implement the projects as soon as possible," the ambassador told the press, mentioning in particular the many investment opportunities in the region.

This visit follows the letter addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron to King Mohammed VI, in which he reaffirmed France’s support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.