Emmanuel Macron is trying to mend fences with the Algerian regime, following the quarrel over Algerian opponent and activist Amira Bouraoui.
French authorities had intervened with their Tunisian counterparts to allow Bouraoui to travel to France as a French citizen with dual nationality.
Macron announced, via “Le Monde” news outlet, the organization of an “international symposium” on the Moroccan Sahara issue, under France’s auspices.
The purpose is to stymie the peace process, boycott De Mistura’s efforts, and force the process into a different direction.
The French proposal would undermine the role of the UN Security Council and give Algeria a new platform where it can look for sources of support among the adversaries of Morocco.
It has become crystal clear that normalization with Algiers was accomplished at the expense of Morocco and its strategic interests, wrote Taieb Dekkar in his article “Moroccan Sahara: France offers Algiers a way out to circumvent the impasse”.
The writer explained that Morocco had understood the reasons why the Elysee is refusing to take a further step on the Sahara like Spain, Germany, and the United States and break its passive neutrality.
In some ways, Emmanuel Macron is offering Algeria a way out, which cannot be endorsed or supported by the Kingdom of Morocco. The Security Council has already initiated the process on the issue and all peace-loving countries should take part in it.
Did France forget that the Moroccan Sahara issue has been referred to the Security Council, and no county can intervene in the dispute outside this UN framework?
The article in “Le Monde” proposes an international symposium instead of UN roundtables. This shows disrespect for the UN authority and its legitimacy in conflict resolution.
Morocco categorically refuses any neo-colonial intervention and puts its trust in the UN process.