The United States is pushing for the early normalisation of relations between Morocco and Algeria and the resolution of the Sahara conflict
- The US is committed to restoring relations between Morocco and Algeria
- Conflicting positions on Western Sahara
- Deadlines and diplomatic efforts by the US
- Jared Kushner's involvement in the process
- The Trump administration's position on Western Sahara
- Actions by Moroccan King Mohammed VI and deteriorating relations with Algeria
The US is committed to restoring relations between Morocco and Algeria
The United States is strongly committed to restoring relations between Morocco and Algeria within two months and quickly resolving the issue of Western Sahara.
This was stated by Steve Witkoff, the US Government's special envoy for the Middle East, who pointed out that an agreement between Morocco and Algeria is close to being reached within 60 days following the work carried out by the US diplomatic team.
Conflicting positions on Western Sahara
The two Maghreb nations have very conflicting positions on an issue as important in the Maghreb region as Western Sahara.
On the one hand, Morocco advocates a plan for autonomy for Western Sahara that would give the Sahrawis a high degree of self-government, albeit under Moroccan sovereignty. This autonomy plan, which is based on respect for United Nations (UN) resolutions, has received enormous support on the international stage, with powers such as the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, which consider the proposal to be the most serious, realistic and credible solution to the Sahrawi dispute, which has been ongoing for almost five decades since the end of the Spanish colonial period.
On the other hand, Algeria supports the Polisario Front's position, which advocates holding a referendum on independence for the Sahrawi people. This proposal has considerably less international support and is difficult to implement, according to various analysts, due to issues such as the need to draw up an electoral register to identify the Sahrawis who would participate in the vote, taking into account those who reside in the current Western Sahara and those who are housed in refugee camps in Algerian territory.
Deadlines and diplomatic efforts by the US
In an interview with the US network CBS, Steve Witkoff said that the administration of current President Donald Trump is working hard to bring about a diplomatic rapprochement between Morocco and Algeria, which would favour the closure of the Western Sahara file, considering that ‘peace between the two countries will be a turning point in the stability of North Africa and the region as a whole’. The US special envoy for the Middle East even set a deadline of ‘60 days’ to achieve these objectives.
Jared Kushner's involvement in the process
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, businessman and also responsible for US government negotiations in the Middle East, also took part in this interview. He stated that the expected agreement represents ‘a historic opportunity to open a new page of cooperation and joint development’, explaining that Washington is paying ‘exceptional attention to ending differences and building a common future based on peace and prosperity’.
The Trump administration's position on Western Sahara
The Trump administration's position on the Western Sahara issue has been clear in recent times. The US president has already made clear his support for Morocco's autonomy initiative for the Sahrawi territory, something that has also been expressed recently by Massad Boulos, Donald Trump's adviser for Africa and the Middle East, who recently referred to the territory as ‘Moroccan Sahara’.
And, according to statements by Witkoff and Kushner, the United States could be working hard on a rapprochement between rivals Morocco and Algeria, which could be imminent.
Actions by Moroccan King Mohammed VI and deteriorating relations with Algeria
This line has also been emphasised in recent years by the Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, who in various official speeches has reached out to his Algerian neighbour to restore deteriorating ties, especially in the wake of Algeria's decision to break off diplomatic relations in August 2021 after accusing the Moroccan kingdom of carrying out hostile acts against Algeria, highlighting the major political differences between the two countries.