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Rabat – Algeria’s politicization of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Morocco is sparking outrage online, with many commenters on social media calling on the African Football Confederation (CAF) to intervene.
Morocco is not taking part in this year’s CHAN after Algeria – this year’s host– refused to allow the team to fly to the tournament on board their official carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM).
During the opening ceremony of the tournament, the Algerian regime invited the grandson of Nelson Mandela, Zwelivelile Mandela, to deliver a highly politicized speech that bluntly attacked Morocco’s territorial integrity.
‘Nothing to do with sports’
While it is not the first time Algeria has used a public, international event to smear Morocco, Zwelivelile’s speech sparked outrage among social media users. Both Moroccans and commenters from other nationalities in the MENA region took aim at Algeria’s attempt to politicize a sporting event that has nothing to do with the long-standing political tensions between Algiers and Rabat.
In a Tweet, ISESCO’s Former Director General, Abdelaziz Altwaijri wrote: “Using the opening ceremony of the African Nations Championship, which is held in #Constantine #ALgeria under the supervision of the Confederation of African Football, to spark hatred against #Morocco, is an act that has nothing to do with sports and its ethics.”
توظيف حفل افتتاح بطولة كأس أفريقيا للمحليين،الذي يعقد في #قسطنطينة ب #الجزائر تحت إشراف الكونفدرالية الافريقية لكرة القدم، للتحريض على #المغرب، تصرّفٌ لا علاقة له بالرياضة وأخلاقياتها.#حفيد_مانديلا_العاقّ_لمانديلا
— عبدالعزيز التويجري A. Altwaijri (@AOAltwaijri) January 14, 2023
Other prominent figures in the Arab world called for the African football confederation to intervene and put an end to what they described as Algeria’s inappropriate politicization of football.
Emirati Journalist Ali Khalifa wrote on Twitter: “Failure in the inevitable outcome for championships where organizers or hosts mix sports with politics.”
Addressing the CAF, Khalifa said that the governing body of African football should be “ashamed to allow for the opening ceremony of the CHAN taking place in #Constantine to become an occasion to incite hatred against #Morocco. Sports bring people together, not divide them.”
الفشل النتيجة الحتمية للبطولات التي يمزج من ينظمها او يستضيفها السياسة والرياضة معا .. معيب على الكونفيدرالية الأفريقية لكرة القدم ان تسمح في حفل افتتاح بطولة كاس أفريقيا للمحليين المقامة في مدينة #قسطنطينية الجزائرية التحريض الغير مبرر على #المغرب ، الرياضة تجمع و لا تفرق
— Ali Khalifa (@Bu3osha) January 14, 2023
Staining Mandela’s legacy
Following the incident, the hashtag “Nelson Mandela’s grandson is a disgrace to Mendela” gained significant traction on social media platforms. Many commenters accused Zwelivelile Mandela of staining his grandfather’s legacy. Instead of promoting peace on the continent, they said, Zwelivelile Mandela has dragged himself into Algeria’s crusade against Morocco’s territorial integrity.
The Algerian regime has long challenged Morocco’s territorial integrity, financing and arming the separatist Polisario Front in its “independence war” in southern Morocco. The separatist militia group, which Algerian propaganda has sought to present as the “legitimate representative of the oppressed Sahrawis,” have long been associated with terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel region.
In addition to reports documenting Polisario’s embezzling of the humanitarian aid meant for distressed refugees in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, many observers have over the years described the separatist group as a threat to regional stability.
Read also: How Morocco’s Multi-Faceted Diplomatic Approach in Africa is Winning
By securing the services of Mendela’s grandson for its Morocco-bashing agenda, it appears Algeria is taking its pro-Polisario activism to the next level amid what many have said is a decidedly pro-Rabat momentum on the diplomatic front.
In light of recent developments in favor of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, however, it remains to be seen whether Algeria’s counteroffensive can undo Morocco’s progress in Africa and at the UN Security Council in the past nearly two decades.
