Sahara : Tebboune accuses Morocco's backers of «imperialist» agenda
«I will not abandon the Sahrawis to appease some and become an imperialist myself. Beyond our stance, the rest is a matter of imperialism. What do I stand to lose by continuing to support Western Sahara?» he questioned.
«Today, Western Sahara is recognized by half of the African Union members (in reality, less than a third, editor's note). There are 55 states that recognize the Sahrawi Republic (actually, only about half as many, editor's note)», the president claimed. «We have learned to resist. Our principles remain unchanged». The head of state defended Algeria's support for the Polisario Front, rejecting the notion that this stance has only brought «hostility» towards Algeria.
Tebboune insisted that «there are no more pragmatic people than Algerians». He pointed to «the strong relations Algeria maintains with the United States, Russia, and China. Non-alignment is in our blood». However, the president avoided discussing the ongoing tensions with the European Union.
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Sahara: Tebboune's Delusional Rant Exposes Algeria's Diplomatic Collapse
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In reality, less than a third of AU members and fewer than half his claimed number recognize this phantom entity. The scripted charade, broadcast in carefully delayed format across Algeria's state-controlled media, was meant to showcase Tebboune's authority but instead revealed a decrepit regime crumbling under the weight of its own failures. Even the typically subservient Algerian journalists dared to challenge the president's delusional worldview. Tebboune faces rare pushback from Algeria's usually compliant press Mohamed Ousmani, director of information at Ennahar TV, punctured Tebboune's bubble by suggesting that Algeria's 'entêtement' (stubborn refusal to change) and 'manque de pragmatisme' (lack of pragmatism) directly caused the country's humiliating diplomatic defeats against Morocco. When Tebboune insisted Algeria would never abandon its principles regardless of global circumstances, the journalist retorted that this inflexibility was precisely what led to Algeria's consistent diplomatic setbacks, particularly regarding the Sahara artificial dispute. Visibly disturbed by this rare journalistic courage, Tebboune bristled with barely concealed rage and attempted to intimidate the reporter by demanding examples of such failures. Instead of citing the obvious – recognition of Morocco's Sahara sovereignty by the United States, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and numerous African countries – Ousmani diplomatically replied that 'relations with neighbors should be based on pragmatism, which remains the cornerstone of diplomacy and international relations.' His intimidation tactics kicked in immediately as he snarled at the journalist: 'Are you suggesting we abandon our support for the Polisario and become imperialist?' Tebboune then insinuated sinister 'soubassements' (underpinnings) behind the question, implying the reporter was doing someone else's bidding – a typical authoritarian tactic to silence criticism. Another journalist dared mention Algeria's growing international isolation, which Tebboune dismissed as mere 'manœuvres quotidiennes' (daily maneuvers) from Algeria's enemies, refusing to confront the stark reality of his diplomatic failures. The US sees Algeria as stubborn, stagnant, and out of touch Tebboune's delusions clash violently with facts on the ground. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's recent report 'Strategic U.S. Engagement with Algeria' brutally dissects Algeria's strategic predicament, pointing out the 'unprecedented Western alignment behind Morocco's plan' and 'what appears to be an irreversible U.S. position of recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.' 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Jacob Zuma, founder of South Africa's UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and third political force in the country, recently stood in Rabat and publicly affirmed Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. He called for strong diplomatic and economic partnership between South Africa and Morocco – a direct repudiation of Tebboune's failed policies. Zuma's party has issued a damaging ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa, one of Polisario's last major supporters, who has been in power since February 14, 2018, giving him just two days to resign. The party organized confrontational demonstrations at the presidential palace in Pretoria last Friday, condemning Ramaphosa's 'negative record.' If it were to happen, this development would mimic what occurred in Peru when, in September 2023, the new Peruvian president withdrew recognition of the self-styled 'SADR' just months after former president Pedro Castillo's arrest in December 2022. In Tebboune's fantasy fleet, even the lifeboats are sinking When not spouting geopolitical fantasies, Tebboune retreated to economic fiction. Questioned about a supposed $20 billion Malaysian investment, he fumbled: 'in the industry sector!' – unable to provide even basic details of this likely imaginary deal. His litany of fabrications continued with claims that 'In Africa and the Maghreb, we are leaders in artificial intelligence use, especially by our army,' and the laughable assertion that Algeria had transformed from a 'school' into 'the world's largest university for counter-terrorism.' Tebboune's numbers grew increasingly fantastical as the interview progressed. He boasted of 85% completion for 13,000 investment projects, promised a 90-million-quintal cereal security stock, and hallucinated an agricultural production supposedly worth $38 billion in 2025 – figures that analysts consider divorced from economic reality. While bragging of Algeria's supposed economic resilience despite oil price fluctuations, Tebboune conveniently ignored that hydrocarbons still account for 96% of exports, exposing his economic diversification claims as hollow propaganda. The spectacle confirmed what observers have long known: Tebboune inhabits an alternate reality, continuing to praise the Algerian ship as the world's most magnificent vessel even as it takes on water from all sides – trapped between diplomatic isolation, economic stagnation, and growing regional irrelevance. Tags: Algerian President Abdelmadjid TebbouneAlgerian regimeWestern sahara
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Sahara : Tebboune accuses Morocco's backers of «imperialist» agenda
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Ya Biladi
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A US think tank credits Algeria with a role in resolving the Sahara issue
An American think tank with close ties to Israel is lobbying in favor of Algeria's interests under the Trump administration. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, founded in 1985, stated in a recent report that «Algeria can serve as a key U.S. security partner in an increasingly volatile region». In January, Algiers and Washington even signed a military memorandum of understanding. The think tank encourages U.S. officials to «capitalize on Algeria» eagerness to restore its global image as a capable peace broker on the continent. However, that «eagerness» has been met with rejection by Sahel countries. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—united since September 2023 under the Alliance of Sahel States—have strongly denounced what they described as «Algerian interference in their internal affairs». Beyond the instability in the Sahel, the think tank also acknowledges Algeria's «crucial role» in resolving the Western Sahara conflict. «Boosting Algeria's self-perception as a valued partner will be critical given the unprecedented Western alignment behind Morocco's plan to negotiate a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict at the UN Security Council, and what appears to be an irreversible U.S. position of recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the territory». The report suggests that «Algiers might even conceivably play a role in persuading the Polisario to accept a negotiated model of self-governance, with the Moroccan autonomy plan as the starting framework. But this unlikely development would have to be premised on U.S. respect for Algeria». Despite claiming only «observer status» similar to Mauritania, Algeria has officially rejected the most recent UN Security Council resolutions calling for the resumption of the Round Table process, which has been stalled since March 2019. On Thursday, Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its support for a resolution allowing the Sahrawi people «to exercise their inalienable and imprescriptible right to self-determination, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legality emanating from the General Assembly or the Security Council». For the record, Algeria hired U.S. lobbying firm BGR Group in September 2024 to defend its interests in Washington. The firm is known for its strong ties to Israel. Notable figures such as John Bolton, a staunch supporter of both the Polisario Front and Israel, the late Republican Senator James Inhofe (who passed away on July 9, 2024), and former UN envoy for Western Sahara James Baker, all voiced support for Algeria's position. In December 2020, all three welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv but simultaneously condemned President Donald Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
