Algeria and Spain have reconciled after 19 months of diplomatic crisis. Algiers appointed a new ambassador to Madrid last November. The process of thawing relations between Algeria and Spain began during the United Nations General Assembly last September, where Algiers and Madrid renewed contact.
The evolution of the speech of Pedro Sánchez, head of the Spanish government, on the Sahara question played a crucial role in this détente. Sánchez’s statements at the UN, pleading for a solution to the Western Sahara conflict consistent with the UN charter and Security Council resolutions, were well received in Algiers. The Spanish position in favor of the creation of a Palestinian state also contributed to the thaw in relations, as evidenced by Pedro Sánchez’s inauguration speech calling on Israel to end the “indiscriminate killing” of the Palestinians.
Since then, there have been increasing signs of a return to normal relations between the two countries. There was in particular the strengthening of flights from Algeria to Spain, through the increase in services to Barcelona and the resumption of flights between Algiers and Madrid. There was also a meeting between the president of CREA, Kamel Moula, and the Spanish ambassador to Algeria.
Remember that the diplomatic crisis between Algeria and Spain began in March 2022 with the recall of the Algerian ambassador to Madrid, in reaction to the alignment of Pedro Sánchez with the Moroccan theses on Western Sahara. Algeria’s retaliatory measures, freezing the 2002 friendship agreement and suspending commercial relations, had significant consequences for hundreds of Spanish companies.
“I could never call Spain an enemy country”
In an interview he gave to the Algerian journalist of the Qatari channel Al Jazeera Khadidja Bengana, broadcast on the YouTube platform Atheer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf spoke on numerous diplomatic issues, notably on relations between Algeria and Spain and the end of the diplomatic quarrel between the two countries.
“I could never describe Spain as an enemy country,” declared Mr. Attaf, in response to a question from the Al Jazeera journalist. “We have a political problem,” explained the minister, who added that “relations had become tense.” “We recalled our ambassador because the political problem that led to this result is very important for us,” he said, recalling that “Spain is the country that colonized Western Sahara and that it has a particular responsibility towards Western Sahara. » “We did not accept this ease with which she announced her support for the autonomy plan (of Morocco, editor’s note) for Western Sahara,” he said.
According to Mr. Attaf, Spain has rectified the situation. “What gave the green light to the reassessment of our relations with Spain was the speech given by Pedro Sanchez at the United Nations General Assembly and he changed his position.” According to him, Spain has aligned itself with the position of the European Union (EU) on Western Sahara. The EU position is aligned with the UN process, aiming to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
Relations with Morocco
The minister was also questioned about relations with Morocco. Algeria severed diplomatic relations with the neighboring country in August 2021.
“Following the earthquake that struck the Moroccan brothers (September 8, 2023), we were among the first to take the initiative of providing aid. Unfortunately, the Moroccan authorities refused the outstretched hand from Algeria,” recalled the head of Algerian diplomacy.
“I was instructed to telephone my Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, to offer him condolences on behalf of Algeria and to express our willingness to help. He (Bourita) did not respond to my call,” Mr. Attaf said.
“We were ready to do more than the four planes that were going to take off for Morocco to transport the aid once authorization from the Moroccan authorities was granted,” said the minister, who stressed that “until today, There was no answer to my phone call. “The good political intention was absent among the Moroccan authorities,” concluded the Algerian MAE.
