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Rabat – Polisario leader Brahim Ghali has publicly threatened Spain’s security in another attempt to pressure the European country’s government to reverse its recently announced, pro-Moroccan position on Western Sahara.
In an interview with Spanish news outlet Telecinco published on Tuesday, Ghali threatened the Spanish government, saying that it has “pending bills that one day you will pay.”
Accusing Spain’s Prime Minister of “treason” for deciding to support Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, the leader of the separatist group said relations with Spain are broken.
The Spanish government officially endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan in March, describing it as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Despite heavy criticism and threats from both Algeria and Polisario over the past weeks, the Spanish government has stood by its decision by repeatedly reiterating its commitment to opening a “new phase” in its diplomatic relations with Morocco on the basis of transparency and mutual trust.
Spain’s change of heart on Western Sahara to unequivocally embrace Morocco’s Autonomy Plan followed an intense, year-long rift between Madrid and Rabat. While the two countries had occasionally clashed on some issues, their long-standing relationship hit a new low following Spain’s decision in April 2021 to host Polisario leader Ghali for hospitalization.
But with Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy initiative, relations between Madrid and Rabat have taken a decidedly positive course as the two countries are now vowing to relaunch a new roadmap to boost cooperation in all fields.
Not surprisingly, the recent developments in Spain-Morocco ties have further frustrated both Polisario and Algeria.
As the main backer and financier of the separatist front, the Algerian regime typically responded to Spain’s announcement of its new Western Sahara stance by denouncing the Spanish “betrayal of the Sahrai cause” and then angrily recalling its ambassador from Madrid.
Days later, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs responded to Algeria’s moves by insisting that his country’s new position on the Sahara dispute is a “sovereign decision.” Regarding Algiers’ threats to reconsider its gas deal with Madrid unless Spain reversed its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, the Spanish minister noted, “There is nothing to add.”
Polisario and Algeria have long expressed frustration with the increasingly prevailing pro-Morocco momentum on Western Sahara by making threats of massive retaliation or of escalation of tensions in the region.
In a statement quoted by Spanish news outlet La Razon, Polisario’s army chief Mohamed Ouali Akeik threatened Morocco with terrorist attacks in Moroccan southern provinces.
The “war with Morocco will extend” to southern provinces with the aim of striking “Moroccan targets without affecting civilians,” he said.
