U.S. Think-Tank: Polisario, Algeria & South Africa undermine Washington’s interests
The Polisario separatist group and its state sponsors, Algeria & South Africa, are undermining Washington’s interests in North Africa, across the Continent and beyond, says U.S. Foreign Policy Research Institute.
In an analysis published lately on U.S. new regional strategy, Michael Walsh, Senior Fellow in FPRI, cites the latest deadly rocket attacks launched against civilians in the Moroccan Saharan city of Es Smara, noting that these provocative assaults have led several beltway experts to demand the designation of the Polisario militia as a terrorist organization and Algeria as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Mr. Walsh sends a strong warning message to Algeria and South Africa saying that Washington has a set of policy interventions to consolidate further Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara.
The U.S. administration could designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization, and then consider state-sponsor designations for Algeria and South Africa, he says.
The United States and its allies could increase intelligence sharing regarding the Polisario with Morocco, and transfer more advanced counter-insurgency capabilities to them, stresses the U.S. Foreign policy expert.
The U.S. government could also pressure African partner countries to withdraw recognition of self-proclaimed SADR and terminate South Africa’s beneficiary status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, warns Mr. Walsh.
Furthermore, several members of Congress have called numerous times for sanctions against Algeria and South Africa for undermining US regional interests.
However, if the U.S. government chooses this path to demonstrate support to an American ally (Morocco), this means the end of the Polisario and could create tensions in U.S.-Algeria and U.S.-South Africa relations. A situation other power competitors like China, Iran, or Russia, could exploit.
For this reason, the U.S. is trying to engage Algeria. This approach is being spearheaded by the American Embassy in Algiers and the National Security Council after the cracks that appeared in Algeria’s relationship with Russia.
To address this challenging strategic landscape, the Biden administration wants to change the status quo in the Sahara dossier and intensify the UN political process to achieve an enduring solution without further delay.
During his campaign for office, President Joe Biden made a commitment to standing shoulder to shoulder with U.S. allies and key partners like Morocco in countering the enemies of the liberal world.
Defending the Moroccanness of the Sahara serves the geostrategic interests of the Unites States which should always take into account the interests of its allies, even in making compromises.
