Watan-The Moroccan newspaper “Hespress” published a report accusing Algeria of “still fishing in troubled waters” amidst tension between the two countries over the Western Sahara issue.
This comes following a move by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to launch a project for the construction of the Tindouf-Zouérat road, connecting Algeria and Mauritania by land.
The newspaper stated that Ghazouani’s visit to Tindouf, accompanied by several Mauritanian ministers and officials, to inaugurate a border crossing and launch construction work on the Tindouf-Zouérat road, and laying the foundation stone for a free exchange zone, revealed that “Algeria is still fishing in troubled waters by attempting to exploit the customs duty issue.”
It added, “While the Kingdom of Morocco shows great interest in Nouakchott’s role in qualifying the Moroccan Atlantic Initiative, the efforts of the eastern neighbor (Algeria) to consolidate a policy of hostility and rush towards penetrating Mauritanian political decision-making through blackmail and pressure using the terrorism card orchestrated by the Palace of El Mouradia.”
خط تندوف يكشف “تقليد الجزائر للمغرب” ويفضح ابتزاز نظام العسكر لموريتانيا https://t.co/ciAiL2cFvd
— MB (@MBNSAID1) February 25, 2024
The newspaper pointed out that the inclination towards countering Moroccan presence in the region is a geopolitical dream played by the Algerian military mindset, which has proven to be limited.
Quoting Abdel Fattah al-Fateh, director of the Sahara and Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the newspaper stated that Ghazouani’s visit to Tindouf and the arrangement to open the border crossing are attempts to break the regional isolation imposed on Algeria with coastal countries, where it has no support except from Mauritania.
It highlighted that “Algeria continues to gamble on the straw in the strategic relations of Morocco and Mauritania by inventing an alternative to the Karakrat border crossing, which has become an icon of international transport due to its competitive advantages as an international trade crossing.”
It added that Algeria has not innovated exclusive projects but has continued to mimic other projects based on the economic and strategic behavior of the Kingdom of Morocco, making it impossible for it to make a difference in its favor against the strategic planning strength of the Moroccan Kingdom.
The Algerian regime lives on producing reactions to the brilliance of Moroccan creativity, particularly the driving force in empowering Sahel and desert countries with a maritime outlet on the Atlantic Ocean.
The Tindouf-Zouérat road is an important strategic route
The Tindouf-Zouérat road is an important strategic route, connecting Algeria and Mauritania by land, stretching over a distance of 840 kilometers and will be completed by Algerian institutions.
Upon completion of the project, Algeria will obtain the privilege of utilizing it for 10 years with implicit renewal.
Cooperation between Mauritania and Algeria has seen development recently, and the two countries have previously signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations aimed at establishing a sustainable mechanism to enhance political coordination between them.
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