Relations between Algeria and Spain are going through a zone of strong turbulence. Against all expectations, the crisis between the two countries erupted after the radical reversal of Madrid on the question of Western Sahara.
On March 18, the royal cabinet of King Mohamed VI of Morocco announced that Spain supports the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. By thus putting an end to 47 years of neutrality in this conflict, Spain provoked the anger of Algeria, the main support of the struggle of the Saharawi people for their self-determination.
The day after this announcement, on March 19, Algeria announced that it had recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations, with immediate effect. A month later, the Algerian diplomat has still not returned to his post. This Monday, April 18, the head of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez called in an interview with the Antena 3 channel for the return to his post of the Algerian ambassador in Madrid.
Algiers’ response was not long in coming. In a statement to the official agency, Amar Belani, the special envoy in charge of the question of Western Sahara and the Maghreb countries set the conditions for the return to normal between Algeria and Spain.
“The return of the Algerian ambassador to Madrid will be decided upon sovereignly by the Algerian authorities”, indicated Mr. Belani. The Special Envoy added that this decision will be taken within the framework of “prior and frank clarifications” to rebuild “seriously damaged confidence” on the basis of “clear, predictable principles and in accordance with international law”.
The Algerian ambassador goes further by saying that what is happening between Algiers and Madrid is not just an autumn cloud that will quickly dissipate. For him, those who speak of a “passing anger of Algeria, they are not in tune with reality”.
Amar Belani corrects Pedro Sanchez
After setting the conditions for the return of the Algerian ambassador to his post, Amar Belani attacks Pedro Sanchez who claimed that his country’s new position on Western Sahara was in line with UN resolutions.
For Belani, the remarks of the head of the Spanish government are of a “disconcerting lightness”. They correspond, according to him, to the desire to “absolve oneself of the heavy personal responsibility in the adoption of this surprising reversal” on the Western Sahara conflict which “breaks with the traditional position of balance of Spain”
“By clearing himself, in such a candid way”, adds Amar Belani, Pedro Sanchez hinted that Madrid’s new position on the question of Western Sahara was in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and that it also aligns with the position of other countries. The opportunity for the Algerian ambassador to remind the head of the Spanish government that his country has a “particular responsibility, both morally and legally in its capacity as an administering power of juror (status recalled in 2014 by the Audiencia Nacional) » and in his « capacity as a member » of the Group of Friends of Western Sahara to the SG of the UN.
For Amar Belani, the approach which consists in putting into perspective the seriousness of this change in Spain’s position on the question of Western Sahara by comparing it with the position of certain countries such as France and Germany on autonomy is “abusive and does not reflect reality”.
Better, Amar Belani reminds Pedro Sanchez that the United States evokes “a potential approach”, while Paris indicates that it is “a base” and that Berlin has expressed itself on this option by qualifying it as a “possible base”.
“We are a long way from the peremptory affirmation about autonomy, which would be the most serious, realistic, and credible basis, which is equivalent to the undue recognition of the Moroccanness of Western Sahara, a non-autonomous territory whose final status remains to be determined and who is eligible for self-determination in accordance with international legality”, further asserts Amar Belani.
Finally, Amar Belani believes that the “act of insisting, twice, on the territorial integrity of the two States” means that Western Sahara is sacrificed on the altar of the preservation of Ceuta and Melilla as presidents”.
