It is the “new step in a long escalation”, says The world Africa. “The break in the diplomatic relations between Algeria and Rabat, announced (the day before yesterday) by the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, did not really surprise in Algeria, complaints against the neighboring country have accumulated in the last month. This rift was in the air: Algeria had the On the issue of Western Sahara, which is permanently poisoning relations between the two countries, new disputes have been raised which have increased tensions. the movement in New York on 13 and 14 July, when Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale handed out a note claiming that the ‘brave Kabyle people deserved, more than anyone else, to fully enjoy their right to self-determination’. anger among the Algerian authorities, but also in the opposition, the implicit parallel drawn by Morocco’s representative between Kabylia and Western Saharan a was considered “false”. Former Minister of Communications Abdelaziz Rahabi condemned a call for “edition”, “hostile action” and called on “the people and the state” to respond with “force and firmness”.
“The fake brother disguised” And the press from both countries also raises the tone …
“Aggressive, provocative, hostile, cumbersome, unfriendly behavior … and other qualifications can be added to Morocco’s attitude that has more than upset Algeria to choose this extreme solution to crime in diplomatic relations”, strongly condemns daily Freedom in Algiers.
“The fake brother disguised”, is upset for his part El Mujahedin. “Rabat promotes crises by working to make them worse. Orchestrates hateful press campaigns against the Algerian people and their leaders. Colonize Western Sahara, blocking its right to self-determination, in violation of international law. Maneuver to establish the Zionist unit in the African Union. “
The “external enemy stratagem” The Moroccan press is not left out: “against all supposed expectations, every time Morocco takes a step towards its neighbor, the reaction is systematically brutal and clear, remarks The morningIn Casablanca. The declaration of the breakdown of diplomatic relations as his Majesty the King extended during the speeches of the century, as well as the provision of two Canadair planes to fight the fires in Algeria, is paroxysm. “
Opinion adds: “Algeria’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Morocco represents an eloquent example of the weakness of the Algerian regime, which seems to have no choice but to resort to the ‘external enemy’ strategist to appease his dissatisfaction, dear citizens.”
27-year-old stranger In fact, nothing new under the Maghreb sun, notes Young Africa: “Since the borders were closed in 1994, relations between the two countries have rarely been known for a period of improvement or downsizing. Western Sahara, reminders of ambassadors, drug trafficking, support for organizations hostile to one or the other, the last 27 years have increased incidents and disputes between the two neighbors. ”
Political and economic upheavals to come So what could be the consequences of this diplomatic freeze? Question asked Today in Burkina Faso.
Regarding Algerian citizens living in Morocco and vice versa, no impact, the newspaper replies, “the consulates of the two countries are open”. The consequences are political and economic, Burkinabé points out daily: “politically, the rickety Arab Maghreb Union will take a serious hit. Already the rather unbearable relations between the two countries hampered this organization, the current rift will not help things. UMA risks at best continuing in its sluggishness at worst, we can end up immediately. Others also fear that the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which runs from Algerian fields to Europe via Morocco, will run into difficulties. Under Bouteflika the mercury rose, but we had never managed to break the links, still reports today. The Arab countries, France but also the United States can help pick up the pieces. Rabat and Algiers should still no longer be able to develop these two real substances, but oh so taboo the Sahrawi Republic and Kabylia. ”
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