Rising Military Spending Fuels Concerns of Morocco-Algeria Conflict

Inevitable war between Morocco and Algeria? The Economist devoted an article to the crisis between the two neighboring countries. Based on their military budgets, the British weekly news magazine hypothesizes a conflict between Algiers and Rabat. "With a defense budget of $9.1 billion, Algeria is the sixth largest arms importer in the world. Morocco spent $5.4 billion on its armed forces last year, an increase of about a third compared to 2019. It ranks in the top 10 globally for the share of military spending in GDP; Algeria’s is 5.6% compared to 4.2% for Morocco," the article’s author states.

Some "well-informed Algerians claim that the confrontation with their neighbor could even degenerate into war," he further states, before recounting the history of tensions between Morocco and Algeria. Others "seem (on the other hand) less inclined to conflict than their leaders." The younger ones would have preferred their government to "focus on employment and the economy rather than brandishing sabers against its neighbor." In Algeria, unemployment is close to 12%, and reaches a record among young people. As for inflation, it reached 8.5% in 2021. For the publication, "a crisis with Morocco is a way to rally increasingly frustrated Algerians."

To recall, Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco on August 24, 2021. Nearly a month later, on September