Tebboune’s Distraction Tactics: Focusing on Western Sahara Amidst Domestic Algerian Challenges
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has once again brought the disputed territory of Western Sahara into the spotlight, reaffirming Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front and criticizing Morocco’s autonomy plan. This latest move, delivered in a speech to the Algerian parliament, seems strategically timed to deflect attention from mounting internal pressures and a deteriorating relationship with France.
Tebboune dismissed Morocco’s autonomy proposal, a solution internationally recognized as serious and credible, as a “French idea” and a fairytale. This rhetoric, according to analysts, underscores the centrality of the Western Sahara issue to Algerian foreign policy and its role as a convenient distraction from domestic concerns. While Algerians grapple with socio-economic hardships and restrictions on freedoms, as evidenced by online dissent and protests, Tebboune continues to frame the Western Sahara conflict as a struggle against colonialism, attempting to rally nationalistic sentiment.
This narrative, however, appears increasingly out of touch with the evolving international landscape. A growing number of countries, including key regional and global players, have expressed support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara or recognized the autonomy plan as the most realistic path to resolution. For example, the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020, and Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands have all expressed support for the autonomy initiative. This shift in international opinion leaves Algeria increasingly isolated in its stance. [Link to a relevant news article or report on international support for Morocco’s autonomy plan]
Furthermore, Tebboune’s renewed focus on Western Sahara coincides with heightened tensions between Algeria and France. France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and its advocacy for the autonomy plan have further strained the already fragile relationship. Tebboune’s speech included sharp criticisms of France, invoking historical grievances related to the colonial era, such as the repatriation of Algerian resistance fighters’ remains, demands for apologies for colonial crimes, and the issue of nuclear waste disposal in the Algerian desert. These issues, while important, are being leveraged in a way that suggests an attempt to shift public focus away from internal struggles and direct it towards external “enemies.”
International relations expert Jawad Kassimi, quoted in Hespress, highlighted the centrality of the Western Sahara issue to Algerian foreign policy and its use as a tool to deflect from domestic issues. He argued that Tebboune’s attempt to link the autonomy plan to French colonialism is a thinly veiled attempt to stir nationalistic fervor and justify Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front. This strategy, however, risks further isolating Algeria on the international stage and hindering its ability to address pressing domestic challenges. [Link to Hespress article if available]
The Algerian government’s focus on Western Sahara appears to be a calculated political maneuver. By emphasizing external conflicts, Tebboune aims to divert attention from internal problems, consolidate power, and project an image of strength and defiance. However, this tactic may ultimately prove counterproductive, exacerbating regional tensions and hindering Algeria’s own progress. The international community increasingly favors a pragmatic approach to the Western Sahara issue, focusing on realistic solutions like the autonomy plan, while Algeria’s continued insistence on a narrative rooted in the past risks further isolating the country and hindering its ability to address the pressing needs of its own citizens.
