Algeria accused of obscuring role in Western Sahara conflict

Algeria has been accused of attempting to obscure its role in the long-standing Western Sahara territorial dispute, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post and agencies on November 27th.

The pro-Morocco outlet accuses Algiers of altering the Arabic translation of the resolution’s text by pushing for a narrative that frames the conflict as being between “two parties”: Morocco and the Polisario Front.

The Polisario Front is a separatist militia that reportedly receives backing from the Algerian government. The group claims to fight for the self-determination of the indigenous Sahrawi people and wages an armed struggle against what it perceives as Morocco’s illegal occupation of the Western Sahara.

Resolution 2797, also known as the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, was widely supported at the UN Security Council on October 31st, with many nations viewing it as the most “feasible solution” to solve the territorial dispute.

The plan would grant the Western Sahara limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty, and is hoped to end a conflict that has been ongoing since Spanish colonial rule of the region ended in 1975.

However, Algeria has rejected the plan and accused Morocco of pushing its agenda “by force” in an attempt to seize control of the disputed region.

Since 1976, the Polisario Front has recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and provided ongoing military and financial aid to the project. However, the SADR is not recognised internationally, with the EU reaffirming its non-recognition of the state in May.

Algeria’s alleged attempt at obscuring its role in the conflict comes amid the nation’s increasing diplomatic isolation, with its apparently unwavering support for the Polisario Front likely being a significant factor in its deteriorating global standing.

At least 46 nations have either suspended or severed ties to Algeria over its backing of the militia, and Morocco has urged that the group be designated as a terrorist organisation over its alleged connections to extremists.

Similarly, Massad Boulos, the senior US advisor on Arab and African Affairs, appeared to delegitimise the Polisario Front by failing to mention the group in an interview where he praised Morocco’s “constructive role” in resolving the conflict.

Support for Moroccan sovereignty is not limited to Western nations, as Gambia and Malawi announced endorsement of the autonomy proposal.

Furthermore, Algeria’s historic ally, Niger, also expressed a supportive stance following a meeting in Rabat. Both nations were former French colonies, with Niger gaining independence in 1960 and Algeria following in 1962.

North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org