Doha – In an address during a party communication meeting in Agadir on Sunday, Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), delivered pointed messages to Algeria amid escalating regional tensions.
“I say to our brothers in Algeria, curse the devil; this is not the right time,” Benkirane stated, addressing Algeria’s increasing hostility towards Morocco.
“Didn’t you find anything else besides Morocco? We know well why you want to take the Sahara and establish an artificial entity there made up of 100,000 or 200,000 people.”
The PJD leader particularly touched upon Algeria’s border policies, stating, “You have closed the eastern borders and want to close the southern borders.”
He also pointed out Morocco’s deep-rooted connections with Africa, noting that these ties extend beyond mere commercial relations: “Do not forget that Morocco is a country connected to Africa not only by vegetable trucks but by spirit, faith, and religion. Our ancestors are the ones who spread Islam in Africa.”
This recent statement follows Benkirane’s stronger criticism of Algeria last month, where he rejected any comparisons between the two nations.
During a November party conference in Rabat, he spoke about Morocco’s historical depth, stating, “You cannot compare a country with more than 1,200 years of history to a country that was created yesterday,” referring to Algeria as a nation that French colonialism found “without a state.”
Benkirane’s comments align with recent diplomatic tensions highlighted in King Mohammed VI’s Green March speech on November 6.
In his address, the monarch, while not naming Algeria directly, criticized those who “exploit the Sahara issue to deflect attention from their many internal problems.”
The King particularly addressed Algeria’s refusal to conduct a census in the Tindouf camps and its support for separatism in the Sahara region.
Algeria continues to host, finance, and support the Polisario Front. However, Morocco is gaining increasing international support for its Autonomy Plan, now backed by over 112 countries, including recent endorsements from major European nations such as France, Spain, and Germany.
Despite these tensions, Benkirane’s message included a call for regional cooperation. He expressed that while they don’t seek to unite the countries, there is a need for unified efforts and collaboration among Maghreb nations, from Mauritania to Libya, to form a strong bloc.
Read also: Benkirane: Morocco is an Islamic Country, Not Secular
