After months of a honeymoon-like phase between France and Algeria, diplomatic ties are once again at a crossroads. On Tuesday, Algeria announced the immediate withdrawal of its ambassador from Paris, a move triggered by a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco’s king, Mohamed VI, expressing support for Rabat’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara. In a formal briefing, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said the Algerian mission in France would now be run by a chargé d’affaires, calling the decision unprecedented among governments. Algeria criticized Paris for backing what it called the sole path to a settlement that would ignore the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and undermine the patient UN-led efforts to decolonize Western Sahara. [Cited Statement: Algerian Foreign Ministry; official APS release]
In Macron’s letter, the Western Sahara issue is framed as falling under Moroccan sovereignty. He asserted that France’s backing of Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan is clear and steady, and he described it as the only viable basis for a just and durable political solution negotiated in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. Algeria viewed the communication as aligning with a broader French shift away from previously held positions on self-determination for the Sahrawi people. [Cited Summary: French presidency communication]
Observers noted that this move was anticipated by the Algerian side for weeks and that it arrived just as Morocco marked the 25th year of King Mohamed VI’s reign with trappings of ceremony in Rabat. The timing underscored how quickly alliances in the region can pivot when major powers alter their diplomatic posture toward the Western Sahara dispute. [Contextual Analysis: Regional diplomacy experts; attribution to regional analysts]
Strategic echoes of a past stance
Algeria had previously reacted similarly when Spain signaled support for a Moroccan autonomy framework in 2022. The Western Sahara remains a flashpoint: Rabat claims sovereignty over the territory, while Sahrawi factions, backed by Algeria, seek independence. The United Nations has long labeled Western Sahara as a non-autonomous territory with significant fisheries and phosphate resources, and it continues to pursue a political solution rooted in self-determination for the Sahrawi people. [UN and regional analysis; cited sources]
The unfolding episode highlights how governing bodies in the Maghreb region navigate external influences while managing long-standing disputes over sovereignty and resources. Analysts emphasize that messages from Paris and other capitals do more than affect bilateral ties; they can reshape the incentives and timing for negotiations under UN auspices. [Analyst commentary; attribution]