For several years, relations between these two North African countries have deteriorated considerably, to the point of fearing an open armed conflict. At the heart of this diplomatic crisis is the thorny issue of Western Sahara, a disputed territory where Morocco asserts its sovereignty while Algeria supports the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi independence movement.
The Polisario Front reacted strongly on Thursday to King Mohammed VI’s speech on the Sahara. The King of Morocco had stated that the self-determination referendum for this territory remained an "inapplicable" option. In response, the Polisario Front accuses the Moroccan sovereign of wanting to sideline the will of the Sahrawi people and to mask a historical and legal reality.
The Polisario Front has welcomed the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to annul the fisheries agreements between the EU and Morocco, considering it a "triumph of resistance".
French President Emmanuel Macron will make a state visit to Morocco at the end of October, the Élysée announced on Friday. This visit marks a turning point in Franco-Moroccan relations, which have been tense in recent years.
Due to growing regional tensions, particularly the situation in North Africa and the Sahel, instability in Libya, terrorist threats, rivalry with Algeria, and the dispute over Western Sahara, Morocco is engaged in a frantic race to acquire military equipment, sometimes worrying Spain.
The French recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is eliciting positive reactions from political scientists.
Long awaited by Rabat, France’s recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara is now effective. French President Emmanuel Macron "considers that the present and future of the Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty".
The Moroccan Malak Sabry won the gold medal in the 73 kg category of the Arab Wrestling Championship in Jordan, after the surprise withdrawal of her Algerian opponent, Melissa Belaid.
A strategy consultant and space sector expert explains why King Mohammed VI has embarked on the space adventure.
Al-Mamiya Jaafar, a professional footballer and Sahrawi activist, detained in France after being denied asylum, could be deported to Morocco where her life would be in danger. The player claims to be the subject of persecution and threats because she allegedly refused to play for the Moroccan women’s team.
The Moroccan armed forces are said to have carried out drone attacks on Tuesday on the border between the Sahara and Mauritania, hitting civilian vehicles transporting people. No loss of human life has been reported.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of José Manuel Albares, has removed a section dedicated to the Maghreb and the Middle East from its website. Previously, this part included Spain’s commitment to self-determination in the Sahara .