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Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has once again put himself in an isolated position by expressing support for Polisario’s separatism claims in Western Sahara.
Following a meeting and discussions with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Tebboune claimed the European country “shares” Algeria’s perspective on the Western Sahara dispute, asserting “a perfect convergence” of views between the two countries regarding Polisario’s right to “self-determination.”
Yet a statement by the Italian government conveyed a different story, omitting any mention of the country’s reported support for the Polisario’s outdated self-determination cause.
In the declaration it issued following the Italian-Algerian summit on July 23, the Italian government instead announced its commitment toward a balanced, mutually acceptable political solution in line with UN resolutions.
“On the issue of Western Sahara, both parties reiterated their support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch direct negotiations and achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions,” the statement said.
The joint declaration reveals a clear divergence from Tebboune’s claims, and the Italian response comes as no surprise.
Tebboune’s recent claims reflect a familiar approach deployed by the Algerian regime. In recent years, Algeria has repeatedly used international and regional forums to promote Polisario’s separatist agenda in southern Morocco.
Tebboune deployed the same approach in June with Rwanda, and he was caught red-handed disseminating false information regarding the country’s position on Western Sahara.
Following a meeting with Rwandan president Paul Kagame in June, Tebboune and Algerian mouthpiece media claimed that Kagame had joined his Algerian counterpart in stressing their alleged support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
Yet, Kagame’s official website published a communique detailing his remarks with no explicit or implicit mention of Rwanda’s support for Polisario’s self-determination and referendum aspirations.
Such distortion attempts by Algeria show the Algerian regime’s desperation to undermine Morocco’s growing momentum in the Sahara dossier. Algeria’s desperation comes as more countries now embrace the Moroccan Autonomy plan as the most serious and credible path to a lasting political solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
Even in Italy, many MPs are viewing the autonomy initiative as a viable political solution to end the long-standing dispute.
In 2020, several Italian political parties formed a parliamentary group to voice their support for the initiative.
“Our objective is to reinforce the United Nations’ efforts to reach a pragmatic, political, and realistic solution based on compromise,” they said. “Numerous European states consider the autonomy plan as the most serious and credible solution to put an end to this dispute.”
Morocco believes it is only a matter of time before more countries from the EU and beyond join the growing chorus in support of diplomatic pragmatism and political compromise as the only horizon for peace, security, and prosperity in the Sahara.
Currently, as many as 114 countries support the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, viewing it as the most viable route to a genuine and sustainable end to the Sahara dispute.
