Algeria’s Tebboune, about to throw white towel in feud with France

Algeria’s president Tebboune said that his country was not bothered by the French position in support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, in a statement that further highlights the contradictions within the Algerian regime.

Algeria has withdrawn its ambassador to France following Paris support for Morocco and issued numerous statements condemning visits by French officials to the Sahara territory, the latest hostile statement was issued after a visit by French culture minister Rachida Dati to Dakhla and Laayoune where she expressed support for Moroccan sovereignty over the southern provinces.

Algeria flouted deals with France in retaliation for President Emmanuel Macron’s Sahara move, including halting all cooperation on migration, arresting a French-Algerian writer who mentioned the colonial origins of Algeria’s borders, and disrupting trade with France.

Despite all of these moves, President Tebboune appeared in a TV interview with three sycophant journalists saying the visits by French officials to the Sahara territory “are not provocations,” adding that “We know…that France has never hidden its friendship with Morocco and up to now this is not disturbing us.”

Tebboune said this after his foreign ministry issued dozens of statements criticizing a French sovereign decision regarding Morocco and its Sahara territory.

As France takes Algeria’s disrespect for bilateral ties and deals seriously and started a “graduated” response to Algiers’ reluctance to take back its nationals unwanted in France, President Tebboune lowers the tone in a bid to avert an escalation that his country started.

Algeria hoped that by punching above its weight, it could push France to change its position in support of Morocco. Little did they learn from past mistakes with Spain, when their retaliatory measures failed to lead Madrid to change its position on the Sahara. Algeria ended up returning its ambassador to Madrid without achieving its goals.

As Algeria engages in feuds with countries backing Morocco’s territorial integrity, it only shows the artificial nature of a conflict it has created by hosting and arming a separatist militia, vindicating Morocco’s position which has always called for direct negotiations with Algeria, the real party to the conflict.