Has Algeria shelved its war against Moroccan maps that include the Sahara ? In fact, Algiers has decided to participate in the Arab Cup, scheduled in Qatar from September 1 to 18 under the sponsorship of FIFA.
Doha recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and during the competition the Kingdom’s map will include its southern provinces.
This decision comes only four days after the election of Charaf Eddine Amara as head of the Algerian Football Federation, following the ousting of Kheïreddine Zetchi. The latter was criticized after an amendment presented by the Moroccan delegation excluding any possibility for the Polisario to join the African Football Confederation was voted on March 12 in Rabat.
Zetchi had however declined the invitation of the Qataris to comply with the order given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum, to withdraw from any meeting where the map of the kingdom includes its Sahara.
For the record, an Algerian delegation withdrew, earlier in April, from an online meeting of customs directors in North Africa and the Middle East, protesting against a map of Morocco.