Diplomatic Tensions Between Morocco, Algeria, and Spain Escalate Over Western Sahara
The ambassadors of Arab states gathered in Madrid for a working dinner with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares while the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, was visiting Spain. Algeria did not participate fully, withdrawing its attendance in protest of a new position on Western Sahara. The Abdulmecid Tebboune government has maintained diplomatic and commercial reprisals for months, and the Arab League has not stepped in as a mediator in the conflict, at least not in an official capacity, despite Aboul Gheit’s visit.
During a joint press conference with the Spanish foreign minister, a spokesperson clarified that the Arab League will not intervene in the Western Sahara dispute or in any Morocco-Algeria tensions unless a formal request is made by a member state, a request that has not occurred.
The possibility of Mohammed VI attending the upcoming Arab Summit, originally held in Algeria on 1 and 2 November, could signal a potential thaw in relations between Rabat and Algiers. Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021 over the stalled Western Sahara issue, a conflict that Morocco has controlled since 1975.
Spain faces a delicate balancing act as tensions between its two Mediterranean neighbors intensify. Madrid finds itself navigating a diplomatic landscape where clashes between Rabat and Algiers spill over into foreign policy, potentially destabilizing migration management, trade, and energy prices.
Analysts note that if Mohammed VI attends the summit, it would be an important development given his recent absence from political life. While it could open a channel for dialogue, there is uncertainty about how Algeria may respond to such gestures. A Madrid-based scholar of Arab and Islamic studies observes that the king’s recent statements suggest a willingness to explore negotiation, but the extent of Algeria’s receptiveness remains unclear. (Source: a Madrid-based academic network)
In his annual address on the Throne Day, Mohammed VI invited Algeria to pursue reconciliation, proposing that the border not be seen as an impassable barrier but rather as a bridge for exchange. The speech did not directly address the core conflict in Western Sahara, where Rabat envisions autonomy within a broader Moroccan framework.
Past attempts at dialogue have faced skepticism. An expert on North African diplomacy notes that the Algerian leadership frequently distinguishes between bilateral issues and broader multilateral forums, complicating any potential breakthroughs at summits.
Swords Held High
Recent events support the view that tensions remain high. Morocco declined to participate in a high-profile regional summit in Africa, citing political concerns, and Rabat protested the presence of Sahrawi leadership at regional events. The Moroccan government publicly criticized what it described as a highly sensitive gesture by a visiting Tunisian president toward the Sahrawi leadership, an act that caused anger in Rabat. These developments have deeply unsettled Moroccan public opinion.
Meanwhile, the Arab League appears preoccupied with broader regional instability, including the ripple effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the challenges of aligning diverse member states.
Algeria is positioned to leverage the summit to reaffirm its influence in regional diplomacy. During the era of a former Algerian leadership, diplomacy was described as restrained; today, after several high-level visits from leaders of France and Italy, Algeria seeks to regain a leading role in North Africa. Foreign policy remains a central pillar of the Algerian government’s legitimacy, according to regional analysts.
Overall, the current state of affairs suggests that while diplomacy continues, real progress toward normalizing ties between Rabat and Algiers, and by extension stabilizing Spain’s southern neighborhood, will require careful, incremental steps and mutual concessions from all sides. The region watches closely for signals that could shift the balance toward dialogue rather than confrontation. (Citation: regional political analysis from Madrid-based researchers)