Morocco Slams Algeria's ‘Selective' Stance on Western Sahara at UN Council
'It reflects a masterclass in selective political manipulation,' Majda Moutchou charged, responding to the Algerian ambassador's intervention regarding human rights monitoring in MINURSO's mandate.
She accused Algeria of 'suddenly discovering a new passion for human rights and international law.'
'The mandate has been clearly defined by the Security Council, and any attempt by the Algerian delegation to distort its role is either misinformed or deliberately misleading,' Moutchou asserted, emphasizing MINURSO's clear mandate to supervise the ceasefire.
Moutchou dismantled the Algerian position by pointing out that seven out of eleven UN peacekeeping operations lack human rights monitoring mandates.
'We wonder why the Algerian delegation, demonstrating obvious double standards, focuses solely on MINURSO while turning a blind eye to other peacekeeping operations,' she declared.
The Moroccan diplomat revealed that the Security Council had 'categorically rejected' proposals to include a human rights monitoring mechanism in MINURSO's mandate in October 2024.
'This rejection wasn't accidental: it reaffirmed that the human rights situation in the Moroccan Sahara doesn't require such a mechanism,' she stated.
Turning the tables on Algeria, Moutchou demanded answers about 'a far more pressing issue: the Tindouf camps on Algerian territory, where the population lives under daily oppression, deprived of fundamental rights and subjected to severe movement restrictions and flagrant violations of international law.'
'The UN must pay attention to all these aspirations, without exception or selectivity, including on the territory of states that advocate self-determination for others while systematically denying it to oppressed peoples on their own territory,' she charged.
The diplomat exposed what she termed a 'troubling contradiction' in Algeria's stance on self-determination, arguing that Algeria wielded it 'as a political weapon against Morocco's territorial integrity' while ignoring 'legitimate aspirations of other peoples still living under foreign occupation and oppression.'
'The Sahara has always been an integral part of Morocco,' Moutchou concluded, describing this as a reflection of 'centuries of historical, cultural and geographical links' rather than a recent claim.
The heated exchange occurred during a public debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping operations' adaptability, where Morocco's representative systematically countered Algeria's attempts to modify MINURSO's established mandate.
This diplomatic clash comes as Morocco continues to gather international support for its position.
In a meeting yesterday with UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Rabat, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita reiterated Morocco's commitment to a political solution based exclusively on the Autonomy Plan, while respecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, the American Enterprise Institute has criticized MINURSO's ongoing mission, with scholar Michael Rubin pointing out in a recent commentary that 'Thirty-four years and billions of dollars later, MINURSO has not even conducted a census.'
Rubin further charged that the separatist Polisario Front 'holds wives and children as hostages to prevent refugee resettlement' in the Tindouf camps.
Read also: Mali Slams Algeria for 'Persistent' Interference in its Internal Affairs Tags: AlgeriaMoroccoUN councilWestern sahara
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
Secret French Intelligence Documents Reveal Morocco's Crucial Support for Algerian Independence
Marrakech – French intelligence documents classified as 'highly confidential' have exposed the full scope of Morocco's pivotal support for Algeria's independence struggle. Recently published by Algerian political analyst Oualid Kebir, these classified documents from July 27, 1959, were sent directly to General Challe's office in Algeria and reveal one of history's most remarkable chapters of cross-border solidarity. The intelligence reports, never intended for public disclosure, meticulously document how Morocco transformed itself into a strategic rear base for the Algerian revolution under King Mohammed V's leadership. Far from merely offering diplomatic rhetoric, Morocco provided comprehensive military, logistical, and humanitarian assistance that fundamentally altered the course of Algeria's battle against French colonization. King Mohammed V approached this support with sophisticated strategic vision, balancing solidarity with sovereignty requirements. According to the French documents, the King's position was guided by three advanced objectives that were formulated according to regional and international circumstances. First, he aimed to establish Moroccan leadership of a 'Maghreb Union' independent from Nasser's Cairo bloc, seeking to cement Morocco's role as a leading power in North Africa. Second, he wanted to maintain the Moroccan monarchy's prestige in the Arab world by providing 'remarkable assistance' to Algerian brothers. Third, he carefully balanced relations with France by maintaining minimum financial and technical cooperation to avoid an open confrontation that might threaten Morocco's recently gained independence. The only way to reconcile these three imperatives, according to the document, was King Mohammed V's vision of positioning himself as a 'mediator' or 'arbitrator' in the Algerian conflict. This allowed him to gain the trust of the Arab world while maintaining ties with the West, creating a complex but politically astute equation. The effectiveness of this approach is vividly confirmed by historical testimony from the late Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella, who recounted an important meeting with King Mohammed V in Madrid. 'I felt embarrassed to take out my list of requests,' Ben Bella later revealed in an Al Jazeera interview, 'because he had already offered us twice what we were going to ask for.' Support was national: From cabinet rooms to campus protests This royal commitment cascaded throughout the Moroccan government. As cited by the French documents, Abdallah Ibrahim's government provided tangible and effective support to Algerian revolutionaries at all levels. This support wasn't limited to slogans of unity among North African countries but was translated into field decisions. Morocco allowed the establishment of military bases for the National Liberation Army (ALN) on its territory, received Algerian refugees and provided political and humanitarian protection, issued Moroccan passports to members of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), and even used diplomatic pouches to transport sensitive communications and documents. Judicial authorities overlooked certain revolutionary activities within the country, at times secretly releasing detained FLN members to support the cause. Moreover, Nador was converted into a radio communications center serving revolutionary propaganda, while logistical networks facilitated weapons transport, the construction of military bases, training camps, and ammunition depots across the region. All this, as the document indicates, was not subject to internal dispute or government hesitation, but received clear approval from the Moroccan cabinet. This confirms that Morocco officially chose to support the Algerian revolution, even at the risk of straining ties with France. The documents speak of a crucial role played by Moroccan leader Abderrahim Bouabid, who did not hesitate to announce Morocco's full commitment to supporting the FLN during a meeting with Ferhat Abbas. Bouabid clearly expressed Morocco's vision of providing 'comprehensive and complete support,' in a political declaration reflecting the Moroccan state's engagement in the Algerian struggle not as circumstantial solidarity but as a strategic position consistent with the spirit and necessities of the era. The documents also show that Moroccan support wasn't limited to the government but extended to political parties, unions, students, and broad segments of the population. The support extended deep into Moroccan society. Despite its official ban since 1952, the Moroccan Communist Party continued promoting the revolution through propaganda channels. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Workers' Union provided significant material and moral support to its Algerian counterpart (UGTA). The National Union of Moroccan Students played a central role in providing forged cards, postal boxes, and strong propaganda support within Moroccan universities. Southeastern Morocco became a backbone of Algeria's military operations Perhaps most remarkably, the documents reveal the existence of an FLN intelligence network operating within Morocco since October 1958. This mission, which managed documentation centers, surveillance, espionage, and coordination offices, operated with the tacit approval of Moroccan authorities and worked in parallel with Moroccan security agencies, notably cooperating with them on several sensitive files. Led by Lagha Zaoui, this network maintained direct contact with Moroccan intelligence services, collaborating on interrogating Algerian detainees, handling French army deserters, and pursuing agents involved in counter-revolutionary activities. The military dimension of Morocco's support was equally substantial. The country hosted key command structures of the National Liberation Army, including the Western Staff Headquarters in Nador, Region 5 Authority in Oujda, and Zone 8 Command in Figuig. Dozens of logistical bases strategically positioned throughout southeastern Morocco provided critical infrastructure for the revolution. The Boubker-Touissit base served as a major supply hub, while the Figuig-Bouanane base facilitated cross-border operations. These facilities weren't merely staging grounds but comprehensive military installations with dedicated centers for manufacturing mines, storing ammunition, and conducting specialized training for Algerian fighters. Additionally, Morocco established a network of field hospitals, rest centers for exhausted fighters, and even camps for prisoners of war captured during operations against French forces. The documents estimate the number of Algerian fighters in Morocco between 3,000 and 4,000 men, some of whom were preparing to cross the border into Algeria on the eve of Mohammed V's negotiations with President de Gaulle, as an indirect political pressure message. Despite Morocco's exceptional support for the Algerian revolution, the relationship was not without friction. The documents reveal several points of contention, including tensions over the ambitions of certain FLN elements in Moroccan border regions and repeated clashes between French forces and Algerian revolutionaries that originated from Moroccan territory. Moroccan authorities also expressed reservations about the conduct of FLN intelligence operatives operating within the country, alongside suspicions regarding the Front's ambiguous stance during the Rif unrest in Morocco. Furthermore, the failure of FLN representative Kheireddin to fully earn the trust of Moroccan officials further strained relations between the two sides. Morocco bore the political and diplomatic consequences of that deep moral alignment The foundation of solidarity, however, remained unshaken. As Libyan historian Ali Mohammed Al-Sallabi documented, King Mohammed V publicly championed Algeria's cause during a September 1956 speech in Oujda, directly challenging French colonial narratives. When France retaliated by hijacking a plane carrying Algerian revolutionary leaders who were the King's guests, Mohammed V declared to France Tireur newspaper that this act was 'a more dangerous blow to his honor than his dethronement,' considering the leaders were abducted while under his protection. The King's commitment extended to rejecting lucrative French offers. In 1957, he declined a potentially beneficial oil deal in Algeria, considering it an affront to the dignity of the Algerian people who desperately needed support from their neighbors. His practical assistance included placing approximately five hundred Moroccan volunteers from Marrakech at the disposal of the National Liberation Army (ALN) and establishing safe medical facilities for injured Algerian revolutionaries along the border. By 1960, the King's support had only intensified. After receiving complaints from an Algerian governmental delegation during a visit to Marrakech about harassment by French consuls in the border regions, Mohammed V immediately ordered the closure of the consulates in Oujda and Bouarfa. When Ferhat Abbas, head of the Algerian provisional government, subsequently visited Rabat, he declared: 'Algeria is Morocco, and our solidarity is eternal. The Sahara is an issue that concerns Algeria and Morocco alone, and in no way concerns French colonialism – neither directly nor indirectly.' What these French documents unintentionally reveal is that Morocco wasn't merely a host geography for revolutionaries but an actual partner in Algeria's liberation battle. Morocco didn't simply offer sanctuary; it integrated Algeria's liberation struggle into its own national security framework, accepting serious diplomatic risk in the process. From royal palace to government ministries, from student unions to border villages, Morocco transformed itself into an essential component of Algeria's independence movement. These once-classified pages, written in secrecy by French intelligence, reveal a forgotten alliance that reshaped North Africa's decolonization. They offer a sweeping account of a gripping history of pan-Maghrebi solidarity, which the Algerian military regime would soon bury beneath propaganda, having turned its back on Morocco at the first opportunity to support separatism and hostility. Read also: The Last Believers: Memory, Mirage, and the Failed Promises of the Algerian Revolution
Maroc
5 hours ago
- Maroc
Moroccan House of Councillors Delegation Meets with New Andean Parliament President
A delegation from Morocco's House of Councillors met on Saturday 02 August in Lima, Peru with the new President of the Andean Parliament, Sara Condori, during her first official meeting following her election to this position. Led by the first vice-speaker of the House of Councillors and its representative to the Andean Parliament, Abdelkader Salama, the Moroccan delegation included Mustapha Moucharik, secretary of the House, Ahmed Lakhrif, representative of the House to the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), and Hassan Azarkan, head of the external relations department. During the meeting, Salama praised the distinguished relations between the Moroccan and Andean parliaments, emphasizing the House of Councillors' firm commitment to consolidating its partnership with this regional parliamentary institution in the service of common interests, according to a press release from the Upper House. He also expressed the House of Councillors' willingness to support projects launched by the Andean Parliament, particularly in the areas of local and regional governance, the same source adds. Morocco's position and its regional and continental leadership under the wise guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as well as its rich civilizational history and centuries-old diplomatic principle, make it a reliable partner and a gateway to Africa for the Andean and Latin American countries, Salama noted. For her part, Condori affirmed that the Moroccan Parliament, a model and illustration of the true meanings and objectives of countries' accession as observer members to regional and continental parliamentary groups, has stood out since its accession in July 2018 with strong presence and work towards strengthening cooperation. The meeting, which was attended by the outgoing president of the Andean Parliament, Gustavo Pacheco, saw Condori highlighting the importance of this attendance as it helps benefit from Morocco's pioneering experiences in several areas. She stressed the importance of continuing the process of cooperation and coordination with the House of Councillors to establish a multi-party dialogue and cooperative relations with African and Arab parliaments, as evidenced by the creation of the South-South Parliamentary Forum. Following its participation at the General Assembly of the Andean Parliament and the World Law Congress, the Moroccan delegation, together with the Kingdom's ambassador to Peru and Bolivia Amine Chaoudri, held a reception attended by political figures from the five Andean countries, including Condori, former presidents of the Andean Parliament Gustavo Pacheco and Cristina Reyes, as well as Peruvian political and economic figures. Also attending the reception were members of the Andean Parliament representing Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia who participated in the General Assembly of the regional legislative body. (MAP: 04 August 2025)
Maroc
5 hours ago
- Maroc
Morocco's Interior Minister Holds Two Meetings with Political Party Leaders on Upcoming Legislative Elections
Morocco's Interior Minister held on Saturday 02 August in Rabat two subsequent meetings with the leaders of all Moroccan political parties, dedicated to the upcoming legislative elections for members of the House of Representatives, scheduled for 2026. These meetings are part of the immediate implementation of the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, contained in the Throne Speech of July 29, in which the Sovereign announced the holding of the next legislative elections on their normal constitutional and legal date, while insisting on the need to determine the General System governing the electoral process for the House of Representatives so as to be known and adopted before the end of the current year, according to a press release from the Ministry of the Interior. In his speech, His Majesty the King instructed the Minister of the Interior to ensure proper preparation for the upcoming legislative elections, and to start political consultations with the various stakeholders concerned, the same source adds. In this context, the leaders of political parties of different persuasions were unanimous in welcoming the High Royal Decision to launch preparations for the next legislative elections in consultation with the stakeholders concerned, in line with the Royal approach to managing the Kingdom's major national events, based on consultation and fruitful, constructive dialogue. The two meetings, which provided an opportunity to discuss fundamental issues relating to the general framework of the 2026 legislative elections, took place in a climate of responsibility and collective willingness to make this date a key opportunity to confirm the uniqueness of the Moroccan electoral model, within the framework of the democratic choice made under the wise guidance of His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, guarantor of the Kingdom's democratic institutions. Following the constructive exchanges during these two meetings, it was agreed that the political parties would submit to the Ministry of the Interior, before end of August, their proposals on the framework governing the 2026 legislative elections, in order to study them and agree on the legislative measures to be drawn up and submitted to the legislative procedure during the next autumn parliamentary session, with a view to their promulgation by the end of the year, in accordance with the Sovereign's High Guidelines, the press release concludes. (MAP: 03 August 2025)
