HIBAPRESS – Shafiq Anouri
United States President Donald Trump has presented the Algerian military regime with the choice of the carrot and the stick in order to force it to accept the autonomy proposal to resolve the Moroccan Sahara dispute, which has lasted for about 50 years.
The newspaper "North Africa Post" highlighted the American pressure on Algeria, explaining that the latter, which has been arming, financing, and harboring the "Polisario" to destabilize Morocco since 1975, refused to recognize the American position announced in December 2020, which considered the Kingdom as indivisible and that the autonomy initiative is the only realistic solution to the Sahara dispute. The newspaper added in a report that the Algerian regime also refused to "engage in negotiations without delay on the basis of the autonomy initiative as the sole framework for reaching an agreed solution," adding that "the conflict between Rabat and Algeria over the Sahara is half a century old today, which threatens regional peace and stability." The report explained that "Morocco has repeatedly extended its hand to settle all outstanding issues, including the Sahara issue, but the Algerian military leadership has remained steadfast in its obstructive rhetoric and anti-Moroccan propaganda," adding that with Trump's return to the White House, his senior advisor, Massad Boulos, was sent to Algeria to push it to end the conflict on the basis of autonomy." The source continued in this context: "But the Algerian regime showed hesitation, proposing to Washington economic incentives on the recommendation of a lobby led by John Bolton, the former US National Security Advisor and one of Trump's opponents," adding that "the Algerian leadership made a mistake when it thought that the American offer was negotiable, forgetting that Trump, as a businessman and politician, does not back down until he achieves his goal." The report indicated that the Trump administration responded with "a series of clear political positions that renewed the American recognition of the Moroccan Sahara and support for the autonomy proposal," explaining that "this position was expressed this month by both Presidential Advisor Massad Boulos, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landeau, and Congressman Joe Wilson." The report highlighted that Washington, through Christopher Landeau, gave the green light to "companies to invest in various regions of Morocco, including its southern provinces, with more than five billion dollars allocated to develop the Moroccan Sahara and transform it into a regional economic hub." According to the report, the United States, "in its capacity as the holder of the pen of Security Council resolutions on the Sahara, is leading diplomatic efforts in coordination with France and Britain to close the conflict permanently and implement the autonomy proposal on the ground, whether with or without the support of Algeria." The same source recalled that Morocco, on the sidelines of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly, "gained additional support for the autonomy initiative and its sovereignty over its entire territory," adding that "the four Sahel countries; Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad, announced in New York their support for the royal initiative that grants it access to the Atlantic Ocean, which deepened Algeria's isolation regionally and internationally." With the escalation of American pressure before the upcoming Security Council meeting to take historic decisions on the Sahara, the report says, "disagreements began to surface within the Algerian military regime," adding that "the power struggle reached its peak between the presidency, the army leadership, and their wings, while the disappearances of the Algerian President for weeks and the defection of General Abdelkader Hadad to Spain with sensitive secrets raised indications of the imminent fall of the regime." According to the report, experts believe that after the collapse of military regimes in Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria, the Algerian regime will be next, warning that "the presidency and the generals are facing increasing pressure, and with their conviction that "the Sahara game" is over, they have reached a crucial turning point." The report noted that Tebboune, who has always repeated his country's support for the "Polisario" in various forums, avoided addressing Morocco, the Sahara, autonomy, or even the American position in his latest media appearances, which was considered a notable shift, adding that, at the same time, "US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landeau published on his "X" platform account a message in which he affirmed new prospects in trade relations between Washington and Algeria, and the importance of building bridges that ensure prosperity for both parties." According to the report, this came "after meetings held by Landeau and Massad Boulos with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf. Analysts say that the American message reflects Algerian flexibility towards the proposed deal, which could lead to American investments in Algeria, opening direct air routes, and strengthening trade links." However, these gains are contingent, according to the "North Africa Post" report, on "stopping hostility towards Morocco, the ally and strategic partner of the United States, dissolving the Polisario militia, adopting autonomy, and opening up to a new phase," concluding that intelligence reports indicate that "Algeria is preparing a major exit strategy from the Sahara conflict, but it is facing strong internal obstacles."
