Will Washington succeed in engaging Algiers amid imminent listing of Polisario “Terror Organization” ?

The Biden administration has intensified lately political and military consultation with the Algerian regime in a bid to de-escalate tension with neighboring Morocco, Washington’s strategic ally and partner.

However, several experts wonder whether the U.S. overture to Algeria will hold given the impulsive diplomacy of a country controlled by an oppressive and corrupt junta swaying back and forth between Paris, Moscow and Beijing.

According to some intelligence reports, the U.S. is testing the waters with Algeria which is losing regional and international credibility, falling into isolation and becoming a failed state on the verge of implosion, threatening regional peace and stability.

Last Wednesday, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Joshua Harris landed in Algiers for a new round of consultations with Algeria and Morocco to advance regional peace and the UN political process in the Sahara to achieve an enduring solution without further delay.

At the same time, the United States and Algeria conducted a Joint Military Dialogue in Washington. They discussed defense cooperation, regional, maritime, and cyber security as well as disaster resilience, counterterrorism efforts, information sharing and the diversification of arms suppliers.

The U.S. administration is addressing concerns over the situation in Algeria by moving cautiously on two parallel tracks: one political (UN-led process on Sahara, Human Rights, freedom of expression…, while the other is related to regional stability, U.S. national security and interests.

Interviewed in Algeria about his new regional tour, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Harris said Washington “wants to see a lasting political solution for the Sahara. We are serious about using our influence to enable a successful UN political process,” adopted by the Security Council urging all parties to Sahara conflict to show a spirit of realism and compromise.

Convinced that Algeria is party to the Sahara process, the U.S. official has not mentioned the Polisario militia or self-determination option which had been abandoned by the UN Security Council several years ago.

He told Algerian interviewer, “Let me explain with precision: the United States views Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as serious, credible, and realistic, and one potential approach to satisfy the aspirations for the people of Sahara.” These remarks have dealt a hard blow to Algerian rulers who continue to cling to an obsolete and undoable option.

“This is where the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara Staffan De Mistura comes in, and how critically important the UN political process is to reach an enduring result. We need the personal envoy to succeed. So, I have returned to Algeria to have another round of consultations with our Algerian partners about practical steps for a successful UN political process,” underlined Mr. Harris.

The UN Security Council process is clear, reflecting a spirit of realism and compromise about the circumstances on the ground right now, affirmed the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary, making reference to Morocco’s Autonomy plan which continues to gain growing international support.

He insisted on creativity, pragmatism and realism to overcome the deadlock, saying “that the same type of efforts that led to unsuccessful political processes in years past are not likely to yield results.”
“That is why the Security Council has spoken very clearly about creating the spirit of realism and compromise, and the importance of all concerned expanding on their positions,” said Mr. Harris.
“Escalation on the ground and intensification of the military conflict is quite alarming and will take us farther from the political solution,” warned the U.S. official.

Following the deadly rocket attacks launched by the polisario militia against civilians in the Moroccan Sahara city of Es Smara, voices are mounting worldwide to designate the Algeria-backed separatist group a “terrorist organization” for premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified assault.

A decision has been reportedly taken and will be announced in due course with serious economic and political consequences for the sponsors of the polisario armed militia.