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Join on Telegram Rabat – The substantial support for Morocco’s position over Western Sahara from the international community has angered Algeria’s regime.
On Thursday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a communique, claiming that the international conference for the fight against ISIS in Marrakech “has given rise to a series of statements orchestrated by the host country.”
The statement added it “denounced Morocco’s hijacking of the purpose” of the international forum, accusing Rabat of making it “an event on the Western Sahara issue.”
The communique’s language at several occasions diverged from the diplomatic language commonly seen in such official statements, in an emotional statement that described Moroccan diplomacy simply as “stubborn.”
The Algerian communique appeared to try to downplay Morocco’s efforts against terrorism, claiming that Algeria has paid “ a heavy price for terrorism … and defeated it.”
The Algerian statement came amid an unprecedented new phase in the Western Sahara dossier, with important countries expressing their support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible and serious solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Several countries released joint communiques following talks with Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita. His counterparts from a variety of countries released complimentary statements on the topic including Spain, Serbia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic, Turkey, and others.
Read Also: Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara Enjoys International Support
Algerian officials are claiming that Morocco’s diplomatic gains regarding its position on Western Sahara are not unprecedented.
In March, the Algerian regime recalled its ambassador from Spain in response to the Sanchez government’s endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
The Spanish government’s decision to endorse the Moroccan initiative as the “most serious and credible solution” angered Algeria, which also threatened recently to cut its gas contract with Madrid.
In addition, the 2020 US decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara added to a growing sense of frustration among Algerian elites, who mobilized their US lobbyists in an attempt to convince the Biden administration to reverse the recognition.
In December 2020, the US expressed its full support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The Moroccan government vowed that many countries will join the already growing list of states supporting its position, recalling the recent opening of consulates in its southern provinces.
Several countries have opened official diplomatic representations in Morocco’s southern provinces of Laayoune and Dakhla to reflect their support for the Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
