Algeria outraged by France's expected support for Moroccan Sahara sovereignty

Even before France officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, Algeria swiftly expressed its «deep disapproval» of the decision, which it deemed «unexpected» and «counterproductive». In a statement issued on Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry criticized Paris' support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara. The statement indicated that the Algerian government would «draw all the consequences» of this decision.

Algerian diplomacy held the French government «solely and entirely responsible» for the repercussions of its stance. It emphasized that France had officially communicated the decision to Algerian authorities in recent days. Algiers argued that the French decision was driven by «a dubious political calculation, a morally questionable bias, and unjustified legal interpretations».

According to Algeria, France's position hinders «efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Sahara issue». The Algerian government deemed this approach particularly «unwelcome given France's status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council».

A long-awaited decision

While diplomatic tensions between France and Morocco have eased in recent months, Paris has been laying the groundwork for political recognition by acknowledging Morocco's economic sovereignty over the Sahara. In April, Stéphane Séjourné, French Foreign Minister, affirmed this position ahead of a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart. He indicated that France would involve public operators in developing the region alongside Morocco.

Algeria's strong reaction mirrors its previous responses to European countries supporting Morocco's autonomy plan. Spain faced similar criticism in March 2022, leading Algeria to recall its ambassador and suspend the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborliness. France would become the second permanent member of the UN Security Council to recognize Moroccan sovereignty, following the United States in December 2020.

Just days before Algeria's latest protest, the US ambassador to Algeria reaffirmed her country's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, calling it a «historical fact».