Morocco: Will Algiers-Tunis-Nouakchott Axis Hold?

After losing the support of Madrid in their anti-Moroccan alliance, the Algerian rulers are now refocusing on Mauritania after having subjugated Tunisia’s Kais Saeid with petro-dollars sweeteners.

According to Maghreb-Intelligence online magazine, the Algerian regime will intensify in 2023 its lobbying campaign in Mauritania to tighten its grip on this Maghreb country and turn it economically dependent on Algiers for political gains.

To achieve this goal, the Algerian government plans to use its oil revenues to fund several projects in Mauritania in transport, energy, trade, finance, food industry…

It is worth mentioning that Algerian firm Cevital has received all financial and logistic support from Algerian junta to set up an agro-industrial complex in Nouadhibou free zone.

Furthermore, two Algerian state-owned banks will open branches in Nouakchott to strengthen financial relations between the two countries, following the example of Moroccan banks.

To ensure success to the “Nouakchott-operation”, the Algerian Generals offer cash and concessional loans to Mauritanian leaders in a bid to lure them and buy their support.

The ultimate goal of the Algerian regime is to isolate Morocco and undermine its historical ties with Mauritania. But the million-dollar question is that will Nouakchott give in to Algiers pressure and join the tripartite alliance against Morocco?

Some experts say Paris is pushing from behind the scenes Algiers to harden its stand against Rabat which is busy working to diversify its strategic partnerships beyond its European traditional allies in the new world order taking shape.

Thanks to the Royal farsighted strategy, Morocco is not putting all its eggs in one basket as evidenced by the thriving economic, military, technological and cultural cooperation ties set with many countries such as the United States, Israel, China, the United Kingdom, Russia and across the African continent.

The Algerian regime should learn from the experience of Qatar and the UAE and other Gulf countries which invested their gas & oil earnings in health, education, infrastructures, social services, industry, tourism, sports…They have not squandered billions of their taxpayers’ money on lost causes and separatism fueling tensions and regional conflicts.

Last year, over 13,000 Algerians fled their country to Europe seeking better future. The pro-democracy Hirak movement that toppled the late Abdelaziz Bouteflika is set to return with rising unemployment to 15%, deteriorating social & human rights situation and deepening political crisis.

Instead of providing milk, sugar, oil, medicines and food to Algerians, the corrupt, feckless and oppressive regime is pushing the country to the cliff-edge!