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Rabat – Pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique has reported that Algerian politician Amar Saadani is under “high protection” by Morocco’s security services in Rabat.
In April, Jeune Afrique reported that Saadani had requested political asylum in Morocco.
The news outlet quoted security sources in Rabat, confirming that the former leader of Algeria’s ruling party fled his country to Morocco.
“He is not the only Algerian figure to choose to live in Morocco,” a source told Jeune Afrique at the time.
On Wednesday, the magazine confirmed that Saadani, the former Secretary-General of Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) is in Morocco, living “quiet days” under Moroccans protection.
“He does not want to be publicized and send signals that could be perceived as a provocation by Algerians,” a Moroccan source told Jeune Afrique.
Earlier this year, Algerian news outlet Le Soir d’Algerie quoted sources, indicating that the politician was targeted by Algeria’s regime in 2018.
The high-profile politician was among people who the Algerian regime sentenced to prison or aimed to sentence as part of the country’s “accountability” reforms.
Saadani allegedly moved from France to Portugal, where he feared facing extradition .
“He would have chosen to take refuge in Morocco,” fearing extradition, Le Soir d’Algérie argued.
Saadani has an unpleasant history with the Algerian regime since an interview, in which he condemned his country’s position to back and finance Polisario.
In an interview, Saadani told Algerian French-speaking news outlet TSA that the Sahara is “Moroccan and nothing else.”
He added that his country has been “pouring huge sums [of money] for the so-called Polisario for fifty years.”
He urged both Algeria and Rabat to transcend their rift, citing cultural and history
ties connecting the two countries.
Algeria, who backs, finances, trains, and shelters the Polisario Front, decided to cut diplomatic relations with Morocco in August.
In addition to already closed land borders since 1994, Algeria decided to close its airspace with Morocco in August.
