Tunisia's Diplomatic Maneuver Reignites Maghreb Union Tensions

In a move reigniting tensions surrounding the long-stalled Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), Tunisian President Kais Saied has appointed diplomat Tarek Ben Salem as the new Secretary-General of the regional bloc. This appointment, slated to commence in June 2024 for a three-year term, comes amidst ongoing efforts by Algeria to establish a Maghreb alliance without Morocco's participation.

Ben Salem's elevation to the AMU's top post replaces his compatriot and former Tunisian Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche, who had held the position since May 2016. This diplomatic reshuffle occurs mere weeks after a meeting held in Tunis on April 22nd, where discussions centered on Algeria's proposed Maghreb project, a gathering conspicuously absent of Moroccan representation, casting doubt on the viability of such an endeavor without the involvement of a pivotal regional player.

The Algerian government had previously refused to recognize the outgoing Secretary-General Baccouche, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf asserting that the AMU "has no activity, not even a Secretary-General." Oualid Kebir, an Algerian journalist and analyst, responded to the Tunisian announcement, stating: "Kais Saied is driving the final nail in the coffin of the military gang's project, which died before it was born." He further added that the "military gang" had failed in its pursuit and had no choice but to resort to "Ben Battouch" and establish a bloc with the "Tindouf Republic."

Concurrently, the Algerian media outlet Echourouk reported that Ben Salem's appointment "coincides with the consensus of the members of the Maghreb Union, which has experienced a state of clinical death" in recent years. The report suggested that this move is a welcome development for Algeria's regional aspirations, primarily aimed at terminating his predecessor's alleged collusion with Morocco to undermine Algerian interests and regional unity.

"The decision to remove Taieb Baccouche, who was described by Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf as an 'impersonator', could bring about some breakthroughs in the work of the Maghreb Union, especially since he played a negative role during his tenure in office," Echourouk claimed. The news outlet further alleged that Baccouche had been "transformed from Secretary-General into an implementer of Morocco's hostile policies against Algeria," accusing him of facilitating the appointment of a Moroccan diplomat to represent the kingdom in the African Union without consulting member states and leveling "false accusations" against Algeria regarding its financial contributions to the AMU.

Echourouk's report also shed light on recent efforts by Algeria to exclude Morocco from its newfound Maghreb Union project, citing the holding of "a tripartite meeting" between President Tebboune, his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied, and the head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Younes el-Menfi, in Tunisia. According to the Algerian website, the three leaders notably agreed to coordinate efforts to secure common borders, develop border regions, and unify positions in dialogue with countries concerned with irregular migration in the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa. They also called for establishing major projects in grain and fodder production and seawater desalination to achieve water and food security for the three countries.

These developments unfold against a backdrop of regional tensions. In April, Algeria faced backlash after news emerged of its maneuvers to revive the Maghreb Union without Morocco's involvement. Notably, Libya rejected Algeria's attempts to exclude Morocco from a revamped Maghreb Union project, with a Libyan envoy stressing the need to strengthen the regional entity founded in 1989 by all five countries.

In response, Algiers has emphasized that its consultation initiative with Tunisia and Libya aimed solely to discuss common issues and problems and was not directed against any third countries. Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf has notably argued that the new, tripartite consultation framework is not a substitute for the original AMU and remains open to everyone with political intention and will.

However, despite Algeria's claim that its efforts to establish a tripartite bloc in the Maghreb are not directed against any other state and that its door is open to all countries, the rationale behind Ben Salem's appointment is bound to revive suggestions that Algeria and Tunisia are indeed determined to pursue a revamped Maghreb Union "dream" that excludes Morocco, a formidable regional powerhouse.