Moncef Marzouki Accuses Algeria of Blocking Maghreb Unity
Former Tunisian president blames Algeria for obstructing Maghreb integration over border disputes.
Watan-Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki directly accused Algeria of obstructing Maghreb rapprochement, holding it responsible for the failure of the Maghreb Union project and the deepening divisions among the region’s countries. Marzouki made these remarks during a televised interview, where he stated that Algeria had rejected the “Five Freedoms” proposal he introduced during his tenure following Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution. He claimed that this rejection led to the failure of the initiative, which aimed to enhance cooperation among the peoples of the Maghreb.
Marzouki explained that his proposal was based on ensuring freedom of movement, work, residence, and property ownership among Maghreb countries, separate from political disputes—especially the conflict between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara issue. However, according to Marzouki, Algeria insisted that the border dispute must be resolved before any economic or political integration, leading to the freezing of the project and preventing other countries, such as Libya, Morocco, and Mauritania, from advancing with its implementation.
Marzouki added that Algeria’s rigid stance had a negative impact on the region’s future, as it hindered genuine efforts toward economic and political integration among Maghreb countries. He argued that Algeria’s insistence on its position without seeking compromise solutions harmed the interests of the region’s peoples, who aspired to greater cooperation and openness among Maghreb nations.
He also criticized Tunisia’s current stance on the Maghreb crisis, pointing out that the current Tunisian president, Kais Saied, had clearly aligned with Algeria when he hosted the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, during the “TICAD 8” summit in Tunisia in 2023. Marzouki viewed this reception as a supportive move toward Algeria in the conflict, which in turn strained Tunisian-Moroccan relations and negatively affected Maghreb rapprochement.
Marzouki believes that Tunisia should have maintained neutrality in this sensitive matter instead of getting involved in a political dispute that further fragments the region. He also warned that continuing this approach would make it difficult to achieve any form of unity or genuine cooperation among Maghreb countries.
Algeria-Morocco relations
Marzouki’s statements sparked widespread debate across the Maghreb. Some viewed them as highlighting real obstacles to Maghreb unity, while others saw them as an attempt to place sole blame on Algeria for the failure of the union project. Many also argued that internal divisions and differing policies among Maghreb states played a more significant role in hindering regional integration.
