Tebboune’s Sahara claims clash with Italy’s diplomatic stance

Friday 25 July 2025 - 08:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Tebboune’s Sahara claims clash with Italy’s diplomatic stance

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has found himself in isolation once more, following his controversial comments on Sahara during a summit with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Tebboune claimed a "perfect convergence" of views between Algeria and Italy regarding Polisario’s push for self-determination in Sahara, a claim that was not supported by Italy’s official statement.

The Italian government’s post-summit declaration on July 23 focused on supporting a balanced and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara dispute, in line with United Nations resolutions. Italy reiterated its backing for the efforts of UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch direct negotiations and achieve a lasting resolution.

This divergence highlights Algeria’s persistent attempts to garner international support for Polisario’s separatist agenda. Tebboune employed a similar strategy in June, misrepresenting Rwanda’s stance on the issue after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Rwanda’s official communication, however, made no mention of support for Polisario.

Algeria’s ongoing efforts to undermine Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara face mounting challenges. Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, proposing self-governance for the region under Moroccan sovereignty, has gained widespread international approval. Currently, 114 countries recognize the plan as the most credible and viable solution to the decades-long conflict.

Italy’s political circles have also shown increasing support for the Moroccan initiative. In 2020, a parliamentary group in Italy endorsed the Autonomy Plan as the most pragmatic solution to resolve the dispute, aligning with the views of many European nations. As Morocco’s diplomatic efforts continue to build momentum, Algeria’s attempts to promote Polisario’s separatist claims appear increasingly out of step with the global consensus.