Morocco-Algeria conflict
 | This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (December 2024) |
Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been marred by several crises since their independence, particularly the 1963 Sand War, the Western Sahara War of 1975–1991, the closing of the Algeria–Morocco border in 1994, an ongoing disagreement over the political status of Western Sahara and the signing of the Israel–Morocco normalization agreement (as part of the Abraham Accords) in 2020.
On 24 August 2021, Algeria severed ties with Morocco,[1][2] accusing Morocco of supporting the separatist movement for the self-determination of Kabylia, allegedly in retaliation for Algeria's historical support of the Sahrawi Republic independence in the Western Sahara.[3] In March 2023, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated that the relations between two countries had reached a "point of no return due to Morocco's continued provocation of Algeria".[4]
Background
[edit]After Algerian independence, skirmishes along the Algerian-Moroccan border led the eventual outbreak of the Sand War in 1963. The dispute revolved around Morocco claiming the region surrounding Tidnouf. After two months of fighting, Algeria and Morocco agreed to a ceasefire agreed upon on 29 and 30 October 1963 in Bamako, Mali. The two main points entails that the pre-war border would remain and that the border area would be demilitarized guaranteed by Ethiopian and Malian supervisors. However, Morocco kept pushing for its demand to hold a referendum in the villages of Hassi-Beida and Tindjoub whether these would want to join Morocco or remain in Algeria.[5] The day of the official ceasefire to the Sand War on 1 November, Algerian President Ben Bella demanded the evacuation of Moroccan armed forces from Hassi-Beida and Tindjoub. The Moroccan soldiers refused which was met by a bombardment of Figuig in Morocco by Algeria. After a second ceasefire on 20 February 1964, Moroccan troops retreated Hassi-Beida and Tindjoub as did the Algerian forces from Figuig.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Algeria cuts diplomatic relations with Morocco". Reuters. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ "Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with Morocco over 'hostile actions'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Ahmed, Hamid Ould (25 August 2021). "Algeria cuts diplomatic relations with Morocco". Reuters.
- ^ "Algeria-Morocco relations continue to sour to 'point of no return' – GE63". 22 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
- ^ Lacouture, Jean (1 November 1963). "La déclaration de Bamako laisse en discussion les limites de la zone saharienne à démilitariser. Les opérations militaires se poursuivent en attendant le cessez-le-feu de samedi à 0 heure". Le Monde. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Wild, Patricia (1966). "The Organization of African Unity and the Algerian-Moroccan Border Conflict: A Study of New Machinery for Peacekeeping and for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes among African States". International Organization. 20 (1): 18–36. doi:10.1017/S0020818300002733. S2CID 154714888.