Karim Zéribi calls for unity among Moroccans and Algerians in France

"Since when, because we have good relations with one of the three Maghreb countries, should we have bad relations with the others?" asks Karim Zéribi, alluding to the rapprochement between France and Morocco following Paris’ recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, which had irritated Algeria and cooled its relations with France.

In an intervention on the airwaves of Beur FM, the Franco-Algerian accuses "the extreme right and the far right" of wanting to "divide the Maghrebi diaspora in France". According to him, "some want to play on their newly renewed positive relations with Morocco to say that our enemy is not the Moroccans but the Algerians!" But in truth, "there is no enemy", insists Zéribi, assuring that Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians in France "will not succumb to this blackmail and instrumentalization".

The former European parliamentarian believes that the crisis between Algiers and Rabat over the Sahara should be settled as a family problem. "It has to be managed like in a family, because the Maghreb is a family," he said, calling on the Moroccan and Algerian diasporas to unite: "Under no circumstances should the Algerian and Moroccan diasporas be offended and in discord because there are diplomatic tensions between their two countries of origin!"

The founding member of the World Council of the Algerian Diaspora adds that "it would satisfy a lot of people if the Maghrebis of France fall into this trap", noting that several people "who may not be Algerian or Moroccan but pass themselves off as such", are "throwing oil on the fire" on social networks. Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians are "brother peoples" sharing the same languages and traditions, Zéribi said, noting that the enemies of the Maghreb "can always try to create discord between the Maghrebis, but they will not succeed".