chargement...
The Maghreb Dialogue Forum has urged Mauritania, Tunisia, and Libya to actively engage in fostering reconciliation between Morocco and Algeria. The Forum's advocates highlight Nouakchott's role, noting that it «maintains balanced and peaceful relations with both Algiers and Rabat, free from a contentious past that could bias its stance. This equilibrium, grounded in discreet and pragmatic diplomacy, endows Mauritania with a distinct capacity to navigate without inciting tensions».
They further emphasize that «Mauritania's careful and measured approach to the Western Sahara issue bolsters its image as a neutral country, prioritizing stability over alignment, thereby allowing its initiatives to be perceived as serving the collective interests of the Maghreb».
Regarding Tunisia, the Forum asserts that under President Kaïs Saïed, the nation «is a key asset for any mediation efforts in the Maghreb. Tunisian diplomacy upholds a tradition of moderation and consensus-building, a legacy that grants it the moral authority to facilitate dialogue between opposing positions».
Nonetheless, this «tradition of moderation» appears to be at risk since President Saïed aligned with Algeria's stance on Western Sahara. This decision drew criticism from Rabat, which recalled its ambassador from Tunis for consultations in late August 2022. The position remained officially vacant until King Mohammed VI appointed Hassan Tariq as Morocco's envoy on March 24, 2025.
The Forum also suggests that Libya could contribute to this reconciliation process, despite its ongoing institutional divisions and security challenges. Its participation, according to the Forum, could expand the consensus, giving the rapprochement a collective dimension that allows each participant to feel part of the solution rather than merely an observer of a dispute between two pivotal regional states.
For context, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East under President Donald Trump, announced in October that the United States is working towards achieving a «peace agreement» between Morocco and Algeria «within the next two months».
When questioned about this matter last week, Omar Hilale, Morocco's permanent representative to the United Nations, deferred the inquiry to the American envoy Witkoff, while Algeria's Foreign Minister denied any ongoing negotiations between Rabat and Algiers.
