Among numerous crises currently occurring on various meridians of the world, one is growing in Maghreb region, between Algeria and Morocco: on August 24, Algeria severed ties with Morocco and, on September 22, closed its airspace to Moroccan planes.
Relations between the two countries have always been difficult, as they have a territorial dispute, both claiming the territory called Western Sahara. In 1976, Algeria recognized a political entity proclaimed by the region's independence activists, the so-called "Polisario Front". At the time, Morocco suspended diplomatic relations with Algeria. More recently, Algerians have been astounded by the fact that Morocco has normalized relations with Israel and, by the same, has gained American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
For many decades, the two major Maghreb countries have accused each other of destabilizing attempts. At present, however, Algeria appears to be in a constant state of irritation with its neighbor, amid an internal political vulnerability.
While Morocco manages to modernize itself somehow and to maintain its tourism industry at an important level, Algeria is deepening in internal crises, and it is penalized economically by the fall in oil prices.
Analysts believe that the main victims of the dangerous and destructive rivalry between the two Arab countries is young people. Both young Algerians and Moroccans are trying massively to migrate to Europe. In addition, in both countries the dissatisfaction of the population is politically maneuvered, and as soon as an opposition movement appears, it is considered to be manipulated from the outside…
France, a former colonial power in the Maghreb, is trying to mediate the recurring crises between Algeria and Morocco, but in a style reminding of the balancing art, in order not to overly irritate either country.
Algeria-Morocco crises
