Argelia prohíbe a sus universidades la cooperación con Marruecos en el campo de la investigación científica

Algeria's rivalry with Morocco extends to the field of scientific research. Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has ordered the country's universities and their students not to participate in seminars organised by Morocco and to stop cooperating with the Kingdom's scientific journals because these publications support "Moroccan theses on the Sahara issue", reports Al-Arab.

While certain analysts condemn this decision, stressing that the move reflects Algeria's continuing tension against Rabat, Moroccan politicians highlight the lack of objectivity and restraint on the part of Algeria's foreign policy authorities.

Mohamed Mamouni Al Al Allawi, a journalist for the Arabic daily, reports that the Ministry of Education received the order in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so Algerian diplomacy is behind this decision, which underlines the strong enmity between Algiers and Rabat. In this letter, Ramtane Lamamra's Ministry indicated that several Algerian university professors were linked to certain Moroccan scientific journals, such as the Al-Bahith Journal for Legal and Judicial Studies and Research.

This decision, according to international analyst Nabil Andalousi, "confirms the hostile tendency of the Algerian regime". "The extension of this hostility to the scientific, knowledge and academic fields is a real failure", adds Andalousi, quoted by Al-Arab. On the contrary, according to the expert, "Morocco's foreign policy has shown maturity in its relations with Algeria, despite repeated provocations". 

Algeria decided to unilaterally sever ties with Morocco last August. Algiers cited a 'set of circumstances' as the reason for the diplomatic rupture, although the Algerian presidency had long signalled its dissatisfaction with Moroccan policies, particularly those related to the Western Sahara issue. Algeria also accused Morocco of being behind several fires in the Kabylia region and of supporting Islamist radicals, although it did not provide evidence for these accusations.

According to analysts quoted by Al-Arab, the latest Algerian decision related to education and science 'exposes the real reason for Algeria's severing of diplomatic relations with Morocco: anger over Moroccan diplomatic successes and strong international support for Morocco's plan for the Sahara'.

Meanwhile, other experts stress that this new episode of hostilities is mainly aimed at "diverting the Algerian people's attention from internal problems and reinforcing accusations of an alleged Moroccan conspiracy to undermine Algeria".

The president of the Moroccan Parliament, Rachid Talbi Alami, also commented on this latest Algerian move, stating that "the intransigence of Algeria's rulers has led to the loss of opportunities for development and economic and social integration among the peoples of the Maghreb".