Algeria’s anti-Moroccan rhetoric masks resounding domestic failures

In recent months, Algerian state media and pro-regime commentators have intensified their rhetoric against Morocco, using the aftermath of the 2023 High Atlas earthquake as a political tool in a failed attempt to undermine the kingdom’s international profile.

The new propaganda strategy lies in contrasting Morocco’s post-quake reconstruction efforts with its advanced preparations for hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 FIFA World Cup. This anti-Moroccan discourse espoused at the helm of the regime reveals more about Algeria’s insecurities than Morocco’s capabilities.

Recently, Algerian television has repeatedly aired segments mocking Morocco’s ability to meet stadium construction deadlines, suggesting that the country is prioritizing global prestige over domestic recovery. Ironically, these criticisms come from a nation where stadium projects like the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Tizi Ouzou took nearly a decade to complete, despite Algeria’s vast oil and gas wealth. The commentators also ignore that a few days ago dozens died in a man-made disaster: Algeria’s sewage, when a bus collapsed into a dirty river.

Meanwhile, Morocco, with no hydrocarbon revenues to fall back on, has made significant progress in reconstruction. Over 96% of the rebuilding effort is already complete, with delays in the remaining 4% attributed to legal inheritance disputes, not financial or logistical shortcomings.

At the macro-economic level, Algeria’s oil and gas mantra will soon become a thing of the past. Morocco’s foreign exchange reserves now hover near $50 billion, approaching Algeria’s levels, despite the latter’s inflated GDP figures driven by energy exports.

The contrast between the two countries is stark. While Morocco grapples with the aftermath of a natural disaster, Algeria continues to suffer from man-made tragedies.

This scapegoating of Morocco serves a dual purpose for Algeria’s regime: it deflects attention from domestic dysfunction and the military regime’s legitimacy crisis. It also attempts to demonize a neighbor that is increasingly outperforming it economically, diplomatically, and institutionally.

But the facts speak for themselves. Morocco is building stadiums, rebuilding homes, and attracting foreign investment. Algeria, meanwhile, is building narratives.