Egypt withdraws from the ‘Peace Africa 3’ military manoeuvres following Algeria's inclusion of the Polisario Front

The withdrawal of Egyptian militias from the ‘Peace Africa 3’ manoeuvres will lead to a reorganisation of North African countries within the framework of the ‘North African Regional Capacity Secretariat’ for defence, created in 2007. 

The unilateral decision taken by Algeria to include the Polisario Front among the armed groups that will participate from 21 to 27 May on Algerian territory. In addition to the Polisario Front and Algeria, Tunisia and Libya will also participate. 

Experts quoted in Express News say that this decision represents a victory for Rabat. In turn, the Atlantic Defence and Arms Observatory confirmed Egypt's decision, even though the African country has not officially announced its withdrawal from the manoeuvres. Meanwhile, Rabat and Cairo inaugurated the Egypt-Morocco Investment and Trade Forum. 

According to information published by Express News, the Polisario Front's participation in the military exercises represents a serious threat to regional stability, mainly due to its links to terrorist and drug trafficking networks. 

Among the reasons for Egypt's refusal is the fact that the Polisario Front is not recognised as an organisation by the United Nations. Furthermore, through various meetings, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia have forged an intense fight against terrorism, which is why Cairo has decided to withdraw from the manoeuvres. However, Tunisia's position to maintain its involvement in the Peace Africa 3 exercises in 2025 is not understood. 

Similarly, continuing to participate would violate the 1991 armistice agreement, as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia would be participating alongside the Polisario forces, a military group that has been accused on more than one occasion of attacking the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces within the buffer zone where the ceasefire was established. 

The Polisario Front is not a state and does not have membership status in any recognised international organisation, except for the African Union, where some countries accepted its membership for political rather than legal reasons. 

Following this decision, other members participating in the manoeuvres, such as Tunisia and Libya, have been left in a difficult position. According to Express News analysts, they are expected to offer clarification on Algeria's intention to include the Polisario Front in the military exercises and the possible consequences of the decision taken by Algiers. 

If no decision is taken, the Peace Africa 3 manoeuvres could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Egypt and Morocco with the rest of the countries that remain keen to participate.