Algeria withdraws its ambassador to France, protesting France’s Western Sahara strategy and deepening diplomatic discord.
President Emmanuel Macron’s backing of Morocco in a territorial conflict spanning decades prompted the resolution.
Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s endorsement of a contentious Moroccan autonomy proposal for the contested region of Western Sahara, Algeria has recalled its ambassador to France.
Only hours after Macron communicated his decision to King Mohammed VI via letter, the move was executed on Tuesday. In 2022, Algeria undertook a comparable course of action against Spain as they supported Rabat’s self-government proposal.
After annexing the former Spanish colony in 1975, Morocco now predominantly exercises authority over approximately 80% of Western Sahara. This has resulted in regional strain and a prolonged dispute between Rabat and the Polisario Front – an Algerian-supported faction pursuing self-rule for the Sahrawi populace. The separatist group advocates for autonomy via a UN-mandated referendum initially proposed as part of a truce resolution following its inception in 1991- however, progress towards this goal has since ground to a halt.
For nearly twenty years, the North African nation has consistently rejected any proposal for a referendum granting independence to Sahrawis and instead advocated for an autonomy initiative under its control.
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On Tuesday, Macron stated that Paris now views Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco’s current and future territory, marking a significant departure from the French government’s previous neutrality on Rabat’s assertions.
He declared that France’s backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan, put forward in 2007, is unambiguous and unwavering. It represents the sole framework for attaining a fair, enduring and mutually agreed-upon political resolution adhering to United Nations Security Council decisions.
Algeria, with already tense relations over the “occupation” of Western Sahara by Morocco, became further annoyed by France’s decision.
Algeria’s foreign ministry stated that Macron showed unwavering support for the colonial presence in Western Sahara without fully considering all possible consequences.
Algiers maintains that the stance of the French government violates international law and disregards all the tireless endeavors made by United Nations towards accomplishing Western Sahara’s decolonization.
The ministry stated that the Algerian Government has taken the decision to immediately recall its ambassador from the French Republic.
According to an anonymous diplomatic source cited by French newspaper Le Monde, France has acknowledged Algeria’s recall of its ambassador.
France’s diplomatic shift has been denounced by the Polisario Front, who fear that it will “endanger the region with insecurity and vulnerability.”
On Tuesday, the group stated that due to its blatant and biased position towards the Moroccan proposal, France is no longer eligible for membership in the MINURSO mission (the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) following its departure from international legitimacy.
