Diplomatic crisis: France calls on Algeria and Morocco to “dialogue”

Published on : 08/26/2021 – 07:42

France is trying to play appeasement. Paris called on Wednesday, August 25, Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco the day before, and its great neighboring rival to return to a logic of “dialogue” in the interest of “stability” in the Maghreb.

“France naturally remains committed to deepening ties and dialogue between the countries of the region, to consolidate their stability and prosperity,” said the deputy spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry in a statement.

“Algeria and Morocco are two friendly countries and two essential partners of France,” he also added.

After months of growing tensions, Algeria on Tuesday announced the severing of its diplomatic relations with Morocco, citing “relentless hostile acts perpetrated by Morocco against Algeria”.

A balancing act

France, a former colonial power, permanently spares these two key partners, a complicated balancing act in which it regularly finds itself accused of bias.

Algeria announced on Tuesday the severance of diplomatic relations with neighboring Morocco, after months of heightened tensions between these two Maghreb countries with traditionally difficult relations, in particular on the thorny issue of Western Sahara.

The normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel – in return for an American recognition of Moroccan “sovereignty” over this territory – has heightened tensions with Algeria, which supports the Palestinian cause.

Calls for dialogue

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League and Saudi Arabia also called on Wednesday Algeria and Morocco to “dialogue” to resolve the diplomatic crisis between the two neighboring countries. The secretary general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, for his part, urged Algiers and Rabat on Tuesday evening “to show restraint and avoid further escalation”.

Commenting on the deterioration of relations between the two heavyweights of the Maghreb, Saudi Arabia, a regional power, also adopted a conciliatory tone. “The kingdom (…) calls on the two countries to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy to open a new chapter in relations (…) in order to guarantee security and stability,” the Saudi Ministry of Affairs said on Wednesday. foreigners in a brief statement.

With AFP