Algerian regime’s futile attempts to derail Human Rights Council session chaired by Morocco

The Algerian regime is trying to disrupt Morocco’s presidency of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, convening in Geneva, by hosting side-events in support of the Polisario, a desperate move which comes after several international bodies have affirmed that the Algeria-backed separatist project has failed and the game is over.

After suffering embarrassing diplomatic setbacks in Tokyo, Bali, and Beijing following the exclusion of Polisario from international meetings, the malignant Algerian junta tried in Geneva another tactic. This time, they exploited the Palestinian cause for their political ends.

In connivance with South Africa, the Algerian authorities invited journalists, militants and diplomats to a seminar which was supposed to focus only on the Palestinian issue as announced but the attendees were surprised that the event was intended to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity and was part of orchestrated hostile campaign.

Several attendees including diplomats and Palestinian ambassador to Geneva withdrew from the seminar and offered their apologies to Omar Zniber, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva and Chair of the HRC for 2024. They also denounced the Algerian manipulation which reached rock-bottom.

In response to the Algerian maneuvers, nearly forty countries attending the Geneva meeting have issued a joint communiqué, reiterating their firm support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and autonomy plan offered under its sovereignty as the only realistic solution to the Sahara issue.

Any Moroccan success and progress are a source of concern for Algerian rulers, who try to no avail to distract Morocco from pursuing its socioeconomic development and strategic goals.

Algeria and South Africa can’t stand seeing Morocco chairing the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The North African Kingdom was comfortably elected to the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council, in recognition for its rights achievements and the credibility enjoyed on the international scene under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

Morocco received 30 votes, despite the hostile campaign waged against its presidency bid by Algiers and Pretoria. Morocco’s contender South Africa got only 17 votes, a crushing defeat for a country that spared no effort to spread anti-Moroccan propaganda.

Under Morocco’s presidency, the UN Human Rights Council has advanced women rights as well as the rights of small islands states, minority communities, while African and Arab issues gained more spotlights.