Algiers decides to withdraw its ambassador in Paris
This was an expected reaction, foreshadowed on 25 July by a communiqué from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, long before Paris officially announced its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
"The French government has finally given its frank and categorical support to the colonial fact imposed on Western Sahara. The current government has taken this step, which no previous French government ever felt it had to take, very lightly and very casually, without lucidly measuring all the potential repercussions", adds the same source.
"By recognising the Moroccan autonomy plan as the sole basis for resolving the Western Sahara conflict within the framework of Morocco's alleged sovereignty, the French government is making a mockery of international legality, taking up the cause of the denial of the Saharawi people's right to self-determination, is distancing itself from all the patient and persevering efforts made by the United Nations to complete the decolonisation of Western Sahara, and is abdicating the particular responsibilities it must assume, in all circumstances, as a permanent member of the Security Council", the Algerian government statement underlines.
France is not the only country to have recognised Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara. Long before, several countries, including the Gulf Arab monarchies, did so without Algiers lifting a finger. Similarly, the United States, at the end of Donald Trump's term in office, the same decision elicited no reaction from Algiers. The US ambassador to Algiers reiterated this decision just a few days ago in an interview with an Algerian news website. Two days later, he attended a meeting between General Langley and the AFRICOM commander, President Tebboune and his army chief of staff, General Chengriha, without both daring to ask him for any explanation.
Algiers, which invokes a principled position, demonstrates its incoherence by using double standards at the client's convenience. No ambassador has ever been recalled for recognising Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, except in the case of Spain.
It was in March 2022 that Algeria decided to recall its ambassador to Madrid "for consultations, with immediate effect", following "statements by the highest Spanish authorities on the Sahara issue".
However, with Paris, recalling the Algerian ambassador to France has become standard practice. This is the third time since the Tebboune-Chengriha duo came to power that Algeria has withdrawn its ambassador in Paris.
The first time was in October 2021. Algeria justifies this withdrawal by its "rejection of any interference in its internal affairs". Its decision follows ‘statements attributed’ to French President Emmanuel Macron about Algerian power and Algeria's history.
Algeria has expressed its "categorical rejection of the unacceptable interference in its internal affairs constituted by these statements", the Algerian presidency said, referring to a "particularly unacceptable situation created by these irresponsible comments".
The decision to recall the ambassador was followed a few days later by Algiers' decision to ban French military aircraft from flying over its territory.
In July 2020, at a time when relations had barely begun to warm, Algiers recalled its ambassador to France for consultations to protest against the "illegal exfiltration", via Tunisia, of French-Algerian activist Amira Bouraoui. In an official note, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune "ordered the recall of the ambassador, Saïd Moussi, with immediate effect".
Every time Algiers withdraws its ambassador, Paris barely reacts and does not comment on decisions that are forgotten after a few months. The same will undoubtedly happen this time, as it is unimaginable that the French government will reverse its decision.
