Tunisia Distances Itself From Algeria’s Attempts to Establish ‘New Maghreb’ Project

Rabat – In an apparent move, Tunisia is distancing itself from Algeria’s “new Maghreb bloc” controversial project, wherein the Algerian regime aims to establish an alternative regional organization amid ongoing challenges facing the Arab Maghreb Union.

Tunisia’s efforts to distance itself from Algeria’s regime were evident when Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Ammar said in a recent interview that his country’s tripartite meetings with Libya and Algeria were of a “consultative nature.”

Speaking with Tunisian news outlet Assabah News, Ammar said that the mechanism does not serve as an “alternative to the Arab Maghreb Union, which remains a strategic choice and a civilizational asset that Tunisia and the other member states strive to embody, while overcoming obstacles to its implementation.”

He further stressed that the consultative mechanism aimed to establish relations with countries as well as other regional and international groups, “based on mutual respect and non interference in internal affairs.” He further noted that this initiative remains open to “any honest and sincere political will that shares the same priorities.”

Algeria’s regime has been stirring both mockery and uproar with its persistent efforts to revive the Maghreb Union, while excluding Morocco from the discussions.

In April, Tunisia’s presidency office issued a press release announcing the upcoming visit of Algerian president Abdelmadjd Tebboune at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart, Kais Saied.

The Tunisian president also extended his invitation to Mohammed Younes El Menfi, the head of the Libyan presidential council.

The post, however, did not announce the participation of either Mauritania or Morocco, two key countries in the region.

Days after the meeting, Algeria’s attempts to exclude Morocco from the Maghreb Union were met with opposition from Libya.

A Libyan representative from the Libyan Presidential Council carried a written message to King Mohammed VI following the “consultative” meeting held in Tunisia.

Commenting on the representative’s visit, Libyan ambassador to Morocco Abu Bakr Ibrahim Al Taweel, emphasized that the purpose of the trip was meant to showcase his country’s belief that any genuine initiative to cultivate solidarity in the Maghreb as well as foster cooperation and shared prosperity should involve all the countries of the region.

Similarly, Moroccan news agency MAP quoted a source close to the Libyan Presidential Council as reiterating Libya’s rejection of any attempt aimed at creating an alternative framework to replace the old Arab Maghreb Union.

Algeria has been calling for the revival of the Maghreb Union project despite causing regional challenges, including interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries in the region.

One such dispute is that Algeria finances, arms, and hosts the Polisario Front, a separatist group claiming independence in Western Sahara to challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in the region.

In response to criticism of the “new Maghreb” project proposal, the Algerian president attempted to ease tensions by claiming that “the door was open to any country in the region that wished to engage in discussions to revitalize the long-standing dream of a Maghreb Union.