Diplomatic tensions escalated sharply between Algeria and France on Tuesday as Algeria announced the withdrawal of its ambassador from Paris.
The decision comes in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s unequivocal endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
In a letter marking the 25th anniversary of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI’s coronation, Macron declared the autonomy proposal as the “only basis” for a lasting resolution to the decades-old dispute over the Western Sahara territory.
This stance has ignited a fierce backlash from Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front, the independence movement for Western Sahara.
The Algerian foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement condemning France’s position, emphasizing that no previous French government had taken such a step.
The ministry further announced that diplomatic representation in France would be downgraded, with a charge d’affaires assuming the role of ambassador.
The Western Sahara territory has been a contentious issue for decades. Morocco claims sovereignty over the region, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks independence.
The United Nations considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory and has been working towards organizing a referendum on the territory’s future.
However, Morocco has consistently rejected any vote that includes independence as an option.
Macron’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan has drawn praise from Rabat, with the royal court hailing it as a significant step forward.
On the other hand, the Polisario Front has vehemently criticized the French president, accusing him of supporting Morocco’s “illegal occupation” of Western Sahara.
The latest developments are expected to further complicate the already fraught situation in the region and could have far-reaching implications for relations between Algeria and France.
