Rabat – Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has pointed the blame to Algeria for the deterioration of relations between Tunisia and Morocco, as well as the deterioration of ties in the Maghreb region in general.

Speaking to Canal 22 Algeria, Marzouki said diplomatic relations between the two countries have become “catastrophic,” suggesting that Algeria’s insistence on supporting a new state in Western Sahara has harmed them and undermined attempts to unify the Maghreb.

“It was a catastrophe for Tunisia, because throughout our reigns, Bourgiba’s reign, Ben Ali’s, and mine, our policy on this subject was that these are two brotherly nations in disagreement, and we don’t take sides with either one,” the former president detailed, referring to the current Tunisian government’s controversial hosting of the Polisario Front.

“Infringing on this principle, which was always a political principle for Tunisia, has taken the side of one brother against the other, and the family is even more separated now,” he added.

Marzouki also expressed support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, citing it as part of the solution to the dispute in Western Sahara.

The politician described the solution as comprising “three circles,” saying that the Sahrawi people’s first home should be autonomous rule under the Moroccan government’s sovereignty.

Tunisian president Kais Saied received Polisario leader Brahim Ghali in August 2022, as part of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by withdrawing its participation in the conference and recalling its ambassador from Tunis., as relations between the two states became marked with tensions.

As tensions grew between Rabat and Tunis, many observers suspected Algeria –the main sponsor of the Polisario Front – of being behind the controversial Tunisian move.

With Tunisia having historically maintained a neutral stance on the Sahara dispute, many observers made sense of the country’s decision to host the Polisario chief by arguing that the move might most probably have been suggested — or dictated — by Algeria.

Algerian meddling

Marzouki further blamed Algeria for meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries in the region, saying that the dream for a united Maghreb is “dead until democracy returns to Algeria.”

“This Algerian regime always meddles in our affairs,” he said. “We have never meddled in Algeria’s affairs, ever.”

The former Tunisian president also accused Algiers of opposing the Tunisian revolution and the country’s democratic transition, saying that it is clear that Algeria is ruled by a dictatorship which needs to support another dictator in Tunisia to protect itself.

“This dictatorship in Tunisia will fall, and us Tunisians will bring it down, and no-one can save it,” the politician declared. “And I salute the Algerian people’s fight for democracy.”