«The Western Sahara issue is about decolonization», Algeria's new president says

The newly elected Algerian President has not changed his position on the Western Sahara question. Speaking after his inauguration ceremony, held Thursday in Algiers, President Abdelmajid Tebboune said that to him «the Western Sahara question is about decolonization».

Tebboune added that the territorial dispute is dealt with «under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union». However, he hoped that his country’s position «wouldn’t affect ties with Morocco».

On November 11, Tebboune voiced a similar opinion on the Western Sahara issue. He stressed that the dispute is a «decolonization question that must be settled by granting the right of self-determination to Sahrawis» and allow them to have a say on whether they «want to be Moroccans (…) or free».