Tunisia’s Parliament Chief Proposes Maghreb Union Without Morocco

"This should be the starting point to revive the dream of the Arab Maghreb Union, which will help solve Tunisia’s problems," he said in an interview with Radio Diwan FM. According to Rached Ghannouchi’s explanations, the project should include the opening of borders between the three countries in order to preserve a common future for the Maghreb countries. He also called for the unification of the countries’ currencies. As the three nations share common interests and challenges, they are called upon to have a common future, he said. The President of the ARP also said he was satisfied with the relations between Tunis and Algiers. Relations between the two countries are "excellent," he said.

This is not the first time Ghannouchi has attacked Morocco. Last December, the leader of the Islamist party Ennahdha had stated that the restoration of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel constitutes a violation of the Arab consensus. He had declared to Sputnik that his country was "shocked by this measure, which goes against the Arab consensus as expressed by the Arab Peace Initiative".

While Morocco is working for a united Maghreb, it must be noted that some countries are playing the card of division and exclusion. "Despite the continued provocations of Algeria, Morocco has long called for an end to the crisis of trust and solidarity that is affecting the Maghreb. [...] We are optimistic and hope that we will be able to work towards the realization of the aspirations of the peoples of the Maghreb for unity, complementarity and integration," the King Mohammed VI has always maintained.