The First Moroccan Crisis. Who will be the winner, Morocco or Portugal? The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion, in favor of a resolution calling for an end to the war and demanding that . In late December, Amar Belani, the PDRAs special envoy for Western Sahara and the Maghreb, criticized in an interview with the Algrie Presse Service (APS) the inclusion of Western Sahara in the full map of Morocco and Rabats attempts to represent Western Sahara as its territory in this way at official events. As a result of this policy, several African countries have opened consulates in Western Sahara and thereby effectively declared their support for Morocco, thanks also to French pressure on former colonies in Central and Western Africa, at the explicit instigation of Washington. The Moroccan UNFP and the Algerian-Berber FFS of At Ahmed both suffered as a result of this. Moreover, a war between Morocco and Algeria would also exacerbate the issue of Sub-Saharan illegal immigration, and we may witness an avalanche of clandestine embarkations arriving in. Dubbed North Africa's new 'Cold War', the tensions between Morocco and neighboring Algeria threaten to escalate and the consequences of this have a lot more to do with Western meddling in the affairs of the two countries than meets the eye. Give yourself a headstart: 192. The Sand War or Sands War occurred along the Algerian-Moroccan border in October 1963, and was a Moroccan attempt to claim the Tindouf and the Bchar areas that France had annexed to French Algeria a few decades earlier. The GFP country comparison form is provided to allow you to make direct, side-by-side comparisons of any two world powers represented in the GFP database. Though Algerias official press service, Algrie Presse Service, routinely picks up these stories, they are a perplexing mix of fact and fiction. This is especially true in the run-up to the appointment of the new UN special envoy for Western Sahara, the Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura, with current negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front at a standstill, and the voices that preach appeasement and conciliation being consistently ignored. By Andrew G. Farrand. The Moroccan viceroy of Tafilalt who was in charge of collecting tribute from the region refrained from interfering in the conflict, and thus the local tribes were left to fend for themselves. Relations between arch-enemies Morocco and Algeria have hit a new low after three Algerian truck drivers were killed on Monday. And the combination of historical traditions, ideology and large gas resources allows the PRDA to successfully withstand any external pressure, including from the US, Western Europe and the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG). P 22.01.2022 Not a week goes by without a new report of an attack on Moroccos defensive wall. Morocco and Algeria have engaged in a dangerous arms race in recent decades. Ties stretch back to the 1795 Treaty of Peace and Amity, and in the modern era diplomatic relations date from 1962, when Algeria became independent from France. They defeated the local tribesmen at the Battle of Taghit and the Battle of El-Moungar, although they didn't directly annex the region into French Algeria. This view is echoed by Sonja Hegasy who is convinced that "both countries don't have any interest in waging a war on this conflict, so the most realistic scenario is that the bilateral relations are going to continue to stagnate.". French-Algerian truce. Mohamed Arkoun, a famous Algerian philosopher, recognizes the fact that while modern Algeria was born in the 1960's, Morocco had been a well-known and an established empire/country for centuries before that. NATO: Finland forges ahead of Sweden toward membership, Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy calls for ICC Russia probe, Russian troops step up fight to cut off Bakhmut supply lines. Algeria's fate is tied to the Ukraine crisis. Morocco abandoned its attempts to control Bchar and Tindouf after OAU mediation. [11][30] They possessed forty T-54 main battle tanks that they had purchased from the Soviet Union, twelve SU-100 tank destroyers, seventeen AMX-13s, and a fleet of gun-armed Panhard EBR armored cars. The United States designated Morocco a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2004, and the U.S. and Moroccan militaries hold joint exercises and training. The main challenge today, therefore, is to reduce diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Algeria, including with the involvement of many external actors, to avoid increasing tensions between these North African states and to prevent provocative actions favoring one of the parties, which the Trump administration previously actively sought to exploit in its geostrategic interests. Egypt even began sending troops and defense hardware in late October to bolster the Algerian military. One such show of military force was conducted in January 2021, with the backing of Russia. So, it is quite a risky position to take.". In short, Mohammed VI, the supreme commander and chief of general staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), appears bent on using military force to defend the kingdoms claims to what it considers its so-called "southern provinces", the term used by Morocco'sgovernment for the section of Western Sahara occupied by it. On March 18, 1962, France and the leaders of the Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN) sign a peace agreement to end the seven-year Algerian War, signaling the end of 130 . 1976 onwards - Fighting between Moroccan military and Polisario forces; the war is a considerable financial drain on Morocco. (1954-1962). ( ) .================COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976 Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for \"fair use\" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Tebboune accused Morocco of perpetrating hostile acts. Morocco denied the allegations and offered brotherly dialogue to settle decades-long divergences. [20] The discovery of large deposits of oil and minerals (iron, manganese) in the region led France to define more precisely the territories, and in 1952 the French decided to integrate Tindouf and Colomb-Bechar to the French departments of Algeria. [5], Moroccan forces had planned a second offensive on Tindouf and occupied positions about four kilometres from the settlement. Although the Moroccan state did not interfere in the annexation of the Tuat region, several Moroccan tribes independently sent volunteers to fight against the French. Nor is it particularly helpful that the careers of Moroccan and Algerian security officials, some of whom were recently appointed, are built around the Sahrawi question and thus a sense of antagonism towards the opposing side. The primary mission of the newly appointed senior officer was to oversee operations for developing and modernising Moroccos military industry - with a colossal budget representing roughly 4.5 percent of the countrys GDP in 2020. VIEWS. "At the moment there are still many question marks over the origins of the attack; some early research suggests that the location where it took place is considered Moroccan by Rabat but under the control of the Polisario by Algiers," Alice Gower, director of geopolitics and security at the London-based political adviser Azure Strategy, told DW by phone. The Sand War led to heightened tensions between the two countries for several decades. DemDigest February 24, 2023 February 24, . These developments were all it took for both countries media outlets to launch into virulent and often insulting smear campaigns against the opposing side. Algeria tried twice to change the nature of its political system. Absolutely not Definitely yes 2 4 [32], French sources reported Algerian casualties to be 60 dead and 250 wounded,[6] with later works giving a number of 300 Algerian dead. Despite this, it was recognized by the Comintern in 1935. French colonial rule over Algeria spanned 132 years, beginning in 1830 with the invasion of Algiers and lasting until the Algerian War of Independence which concluded in 1962. The Moroccan policy of supposedly "reaching out" is perhaps a mere smokescreen aiming to hide the regimes true intentions - of forcing the Algerian generals to initiate hostilities. But Algeria's president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has already warned Morocco that "their killings will not go unpunished,"as the state news agency APS reports. . The rivalry between Morocco and Algeria exemplified in the Sand War also influenced Algeria's policy regarding the conflict in Western Sahara, with Algeria backing an independence-minded Sahrawi guerrilla organization, the Polisario Front, partly to curb Moroccan expansionism in the wake of the attempt to annex Tindouf.[44]. The military subsequently became the main political force in Algeria, taking an active part in domestic politics. Tensions have flared over the past few months between Morocco and its regional rival Algeria over the former Spanish colony which Rabat sees as its own sovereign territory.. Algiers backs the . It doesn't have the capability to handle both at the same time," Gower said. Fortunately, other priorities will likely constrain the conflict. During the Algerian War of Independence, the Algerian rebels received funding from Morocco along with safe havens, arms, and medicine. Complete the form and download, for free, the highlights from The Africa Reports Exclusive Ranking of Africas top 200 banks from last year. [39], The ceasefire was almost jeopardized on November 1, when Algerian troops assaulted a village near Figuig and positioned themselves against the town's airport. Compounding the new Algerian attitude towards Morocco's Western Sahara stance was the outcome of the 1963 Sand War between the two neighbors. Morocco spent $5.4bn on its armed forces last year, up by about a third from 2019. Since 1975, the dominant issue between the two countries has been the conflict in Western Sahara.After the former colonial power Spain withdrew its forces and handed control of the territory to Morocco and Mauritania, Algeria threw its support behind the local Sahrawi people's claims for self-determination and the Polisario movement fighting on their behalf. But in a pre-recorded video shown at the UN assembly, Moroccos foreign minister said Algeria needed to shoulder its responsibility for perpetuating an invented regional conflict, demanding that Algiers stop protecting a group of armed separatists in gross violation of international humanitarian law. At the end of July, King Mohamed VI had complained about the . Tensions between the two neighboring North African countries have been growing, and Algeria's rhetoric points towards an armed conflict. And in a deal brokered by the US, the kingdom agreed to resume diplomatic relations with Israel, a long-standing taboo for Algeria which also happens to be the Polisario Fronts main backer. Algeria has openly backed the Polisario Front separatist movement, which defends the right of theSahrawi people to self-determination. [32] The Algerians attacked the town of Ich on October 18, enlarging the war to the North. In short, Mohammed VI, the supreme commander and chief of general staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), appears bent on using military force to defend the kingdom's claims to what it considers its. [28] The Algerian army had ordered a large number of AMX-13 light tanks from France in 1962,[29] but, at the time of the fighting, only twelve were in service. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Saad Lamjarred trial: Moroccan singer sentenced to six years in prison, Saad Lamjarred trial: Prosecution requests seven-year sentence in sexual assault case, Morocco's economy risks heavy price with neutrality in Ukraine war, Court annuls EU deals with Morocco over disputed Western Sahara. After this, the U.S. has been more neutral on Algerian government political and civil rights violations. In August 2021, Algeria blamed Morocco and Israel of supporting the Movement for the self-determination of Kabylia, which the Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune accused of being involved in the wildfires in northern Algeria. Did Morocco help Algeria gain independence? India. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Relations between arch-enemies Morocco and Algeria have hit a new low after three Algerian truck drivers were killed on Monday. [23] However, Hassan was reluctant to authorise it, fearing that another battle would prompt further military intervention from Algeria's allies. Algeria has openly backed the Polisario Front separatist movement, which defends the right of theSahrawi people to self-determination. The United States made Algeria a "pivotal state" in the war on terror. Despite ambiguous sentiment in Algeria concerning its former colonial power, France has maintained a historically favored position in Algerian foreign relations. In the 1890s, the French administration and military called for the annexation of the Tuat region. This helps us sort answers on the page. [16], The French 19th Army Corps' Oran and Algiers divisions fought the At Khabbash, a fraction of the At Ounbgui khams of the At Atta confederation. Whilst the nature of French rule changed over this time, Algeria was administered as an integral part of France from 1848 until independence. READ MORE Morocco/Algeria : Tensions on the rise after Algerian show mocks the King. First of all, this has been caused by provocative actions of external actors regarding the conflict in Western Sahara, and in particular the steps by the Trump administration to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory in late 2020. The attack left two people dead and was carried out by three Algerian-French nationals. Russia has an embassy in Algiers and a consulate in Annaba, and Algeria has an embassy in Moscow. Bangladesh. In this paper, I argue that the Algeria-Morocco diplomatic crisis is a modern-day "Sand War," taking escalation from the previous internal conflict of the '60s and modernizing the mechanisms and problem at hand that have continuously stirred conflict in the Northern Africa region. The Algerian War was very violent as hundreds of thousands were killed. In a carefully calculated moveaimed at neutralising the reach of the Moroccan military - which had formerly attempted a coup under the rule of King Hassan II - Mohammed VI placed the security of the royal palace and compound in the hands of the countrys armed forces. Wake up to the essential with the Editor's picks. Algeria is a strategically located country with which the United States engages on diplomatic, law enforcement, economic, and security matters. Algeria, meanwhile, achieved liberation in 1962 after a long and bloody civil war. 30. [28] They also suspected that Washington was hoping the war would precipitate Ben Bella's downfall, which Castro was determined to prevent. Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been strained ever since they each gained their independence in the mid20th century. In line with its idea of sovereignty, Algeria views the conflicts taking place in these countries as their internal affairs, which external players should not interfere in. [27] Its logistics was also complicated by its vast array of largely obsolete weapons from a number of diverse sources, including France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the United States. Why is China cracking down on prominent business figures? It aimed to put a definite end to Barbary privateering and increase the king's popularity among the French people, particularly in Paris, where many veterans of the Napoleonic Wars lived. Solar panel initiatives are already up and running but Morocco isfar from being energy-sufficient enough to cover such a loss. Regarding two of the countries that share a history of colonialism and war with France, Morocco and Algeria, Macron recalled that the largest diaspora in the Maghreb is precisely on French territory. In November last year, then-US president Donald Trump had recognized Morocco's claim over the phosphate-rich Western Sahara as part of a quid pro quofor Rabat's normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel. Il travaille notamment sur les questions relatives au leadership, la formation des lites politiques et la gouvernabilit. [4] Although they were initially described as an advisory contingent to train the Algerian army, Fidel Castro also authorized their deployment in combat actions to safeguard Algeria's territorial integrity. For this reason, Algeria is extremely wary of attempts by NATO, especially France, the US and Britain, to interfere both in its internal affairs and those of other countries. A laureate of the Royal Military Academy, Farouk began in the infantry, before occupying several key military positions, including commander of the southern provinces, the position he filled for nearly 40 years and that has been virtually vacant since 2017. [8] Morocco officially reported to have suffered 39 dead. Algeria does not want war with Morocco, but it is ready to do so, the article said, and pointed to Algerias allegedly heightened concern about strengthening military cooperation between Israel and Morocco after they signed a defense agreement in November 2021, as a second reason for the strained relations. The military doctrines of both countries are based on the constant threat from a neighboring state, and the ongoing arms race between them is extremely costly for both countries, especially given the current global economic crisis. Its leadership views negatively any attempts by other countries to interfere in Algerian politics. Algerias attachment to its principles and its determination not to deviate from them are a source of irritation to the Makhzen [Moroccos governing institution], and an impediment to the regimes questionable regional projects, the lieutenant general is quoted as saying. For 2023, Algeria is ranked 26 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. Morocco's and Algeria's top military and secret service leaders have risen through the ranks and often led brilliant and sometimes action-packed careers. Your response is private Was this worth your time? Algeria tourist visa is not required for citizens of Morocco for a stay up to 90 days. Leading up to the final days of Trump's period in the White House, the former president signed a decree officially acknowledging (by America) Morocco's claim that the disputed territory is a legitimate sovereign part of the kingdom. On 8 November 1942, the invasion commenced with landings on three beachestwo west of Algiers and one east. Following this first phase, the Moroccan monarch now seems to be wielding the hard power of military and economic pressure, in an attempted strategic play by Rabat to bend the will of Algiers. 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