Algeria ensures for a period of one month, the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, a role that it fulfills in a diplomatic context marked by major developments concerning the conflict around the Moroccan Sahara. This issue, at the heart of regional tensions, experienced a turning point with the adoption of resolution 2756, which consolidated Morocco’s position by highlighting its autonomy initiative, widely supported by the UN and many countries such as single solution to the conflict.
However, to everyone’s surprise, the agenda of the ” Algerian session » was distinguished by the total absence of any mention of the Moroccan Sahara. A surprising omission, especially since Algeria has made this issue a stated priority of its foreign policy. This decision raised many questions, both among observers and among parties interested in this matter.
A strategy of avoidance in the face of international pressure
For some analysts, this deliberate absence reflects Algeria’s desire to avoid diplomatic debates which could prove embarrassing. “ Algeria avoids putting this issue on the agenda so as not to suffer negative diplomatic repercussions, especially in a context where international recognition of the Moroccan nature of the Sahara is strengthening.“, analyzes an expert. This strategy would also be dictated by the escalation of the Polisario, in particular its withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement, which places Algiers in a delicate position.
Ammar Ben Jamaa, Algeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, justified this omission by stating that ” the Security Council had renewed, three months earlier, the mandate of MINURSO“. He clarified that “ Algeria does not intend to include this question on the Council’s agenda, except in the event of a new event requiring it“. Despite this position, he reaffirmed his country’s attachment to “self-determination » in the Moroccan Sahara, describing this file as “ priority for Algeria, Africa and the United Nations« .
Political analyst and expert in international relations, Lahcen Aqartit believes that this exclusion reflects the diplomatic difficulties encountered by Algiers after the adoption of resolution 2756. According to him, the latter not only strengthened the Moroccan position, but it also highlight two crucial points: the momentum of international support, such as the recent one from France, and the opening of a Chadian consulate in Laâyoune. “ These developments mark a strategic victory for Morocco and place Algeria in an impasse“, he says.
-Any new discussion on this issue in the Security Council could result in “ an unfavorable voting scenario for Algeria and further strengthen Morocco’s position“, he believes.
A defensive posture
Abbas El Ouardi, professor of public law at the Mohammed V Souissi University in Rabat, shares this analysis, emphasizing that Algeria is now unable to include this issue on the Security Council’s agenda. According to him, “ the calendar of the Algerian presidency does not allow this subject to be relaunched, despite the ambitions of its representative to use this international forum to serve the interests of the regime« .
El Ouardi also highlighted the constraints imposed by Security Council resolutions which confirm Morocco’s achievements. “ Algeria remains constrained by Security Council resolutions, despite its repeated attempts to influence the course of the issue, in particular resolution 2756, which confirms Morocco’s position“, he concluded.
This month of presidency of the Security Council highlights the complexity of the Algerian position. Faced with Moroccan diplomacy which has a string of successes, notably with the opening of consulates in the southern provinces, Algeria seems to opt for a cautious, even defensive, approach to avoid accentuating its isolation.
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