Reflection time in Africa
While #Morocco is winning the admiration of #Africa with its innovative projects and cross-border, transatlantic and trans-Mediterranean initiatives, putting forward an African realism, a union of interests and a respect for partnerships, some states are coalescing to counter the momentum of Moroccan diplomacy.
As I mentioned earlier, this year is marked by diplomatic excellence, after the presidency of the Human Rights Council in 2024, and today, Morocco assumes the presidency of the Peace and Security Council. So how do the Kingdom's adversaries react to this multidimensional success?
South Africa, Algeria, France and Russia, each with their own distinct style, are the players in this diplomatic battle. For France, it's a war of communication and diplomacy between the lines... for fear that Morocco might become economically stronger than France.
Algeria, for its part, realizes that its war strategy has not been effective, as the attacks on Es-Smara have not benefited Algiers. So, it will have to find stronger diplomatic actions, notably by instrumentalizing the Palestinian cause.
Above all, it must seek out economic competitors and invite them to join the economic battle with Morocco, by directing it towards a strategic and diplomatic confrontation, especially at the level of the African Union and the United Nations.
Russia, for its part, wonders about the rapprochement between Morocco and the Sahel states. Does it fear a threat to its influence? The question also arises as to whether Morocco will provide American access for this purpose. Faced with this, could Russia threaten Morocco by drawing closer to the "Polisario" terrorist organization to counter the development of Moroccan-Sahelian relations?
However, it needs to be more lucid, in my humble opinion, as the United States is against Mali breaking the Algiers agreements, while Morocco seems to be supporting Mali unofficially. Relations with the Sahel could be a quest for common regional development.
Moreover, an article in Sputnik entitled "This rapprochement could worsen the situation in the Sahel" makes me wonder, as Professor Victor Adetula argues: "In search of a big brother to support them, the three countries could turn to North Africa and draw closer to Morocco. This scenario would lead to the inclusion of new external players in Sahelian affairs, which would bring its share of additional problems... Algiers could support paramilitary groups in Sahelian countries, to counter Morocco's game".
If an Algerian were to confirm the words of the Nigerian expert Adetula, he would be shooting himself in the foot, because it only confirms Algeria's ongoing hostility towards the Sahel states... In my view, Russia is in a bind and must make a strategic choice. With or against Algeria! As for South Africa, it is disturbed by Morocco's remarkable economic transformation under HM King Mohammed VI.
This is prompting it to seek diplomatic means, especially vicious ones, to counter this ascendancy. Clear signs of this struggle can be seen in the recent invitation to Pretoria by the UN's personal envoy, as well as in the partnership between the African National Congress (ANC) party and the treacherous Rifa groups created and financed by Algeria.
The next African summit will be no picnic for African diplomacy!
Mehdi EL KAROUANI
@karouani_M