Algeria Warns of Sanctions Against France Over Sahara Stance

In a move reminiscent of its response to Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, Algeria has issued a stern warning to France, threatening sanctions over Paris’s new position on the Sahara dispute.

The Algerian government has signaled its intent to impose sanctions on France following Paris’s recent shift in stance on the Sahara issue. This development comes after Algeria recalled its ambassador from Paris, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf announcing further measures against France on Wednesday.

“This is not merely a recall of the ambassador for consultation. It is a reduction in diplomatic representation. It is a significant step to express our condemnation and disapproval,” Attaf stated at a press conference.

The withdrawal of the Algerian ambassador marks the first in a series of actions Algeria plans to take, according to Attaf. He further claimed that President Macron had informed Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of France’s decision on the Sahara back in June.

“The French decision does not serve the peaceful resolution of the Sahara issue” and “contradicts the diplomatic efforts of the UN and some international actors,” Attaf asserted.

On Tuesday, the Moroccan royal cabinet released a statement confirming President Macron’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces. The statement quoted Macron as saying, “The present and future of Sahara lie within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty.”

King Mohammed VI welcomed France’s clear and strong position in support of the Moroccan plan to resolve the Sahara dispute, as per the statement.

France’s decision followed a hastily issued statement by the Algerian Foreign Ministry last week, which hinted at and denounced a potential move by Paris to recognize Moroccan sovereignty. Algeria retracted the statement the same day but issued a new one on Monday, condemning France’s decision after Macron officially announced his country’s new position on the Sahara.

Algeria’s warnings to France echo its similarly indignant reaction when Spain endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis for resolving the Sahara dispute in March 2022. In response to Spain’s move, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid and terminated a 20-year-old Friendship Treaty with the European country.

The escalating diplomatic tensions underscore the complex and contentious nature of the Sahara dispute, which has long been a source of friction between Algeria and Morocco. The latest developments suggest that the issue is far from resolved and continues to strain regional relationships.