Morocco -Algeria Borders to open on June 2

05/16/11

The Algerian daily “Voice of Oran “ reported in its May 15 edition that The opening of the borders between Algeria and Morocco, closed since 1994, will take place on June 2.Citing well informed sources, the Algerian newspaper stated that this decision was made at the highest level of the Algerian Government. Up until now, the Algerian Government has rebuffed Moroccan overtures to open the borders describing them as attempts by Rabat to salvage its economy. Recent regional and international developments have exposed Algiers’ foreign policy shortcomings in North Africa.

Experts following the developments of the Algerian Moroccan relations have noticed an unusual coolness in the coverage of Morocco in the habitual anti-Moroccan press organs in Algiers. This noticeable calm was coupled with a muted Moroccan reaction to news of a new wave of Saharan escapees from the Algeria controlled Tindouf Camps to the Moroccan territories. Recent positive press declarations by high-ranking Algerian officials are all signs that Morocco and Algeria are close to re-establish full diplomatic and economic relations and reopen their closed borders.

As the Algerian government of Bouteflika finds itself “truly” cut off from all its neighbors, the Algerian military establishment, that has controlled the political decision process in the country since independence, started to look at ways to move the regime out of this impasse. Algeria’s foreign policy fiasco in Libya and the cool relations with the new Tunisian Government have made the idea of improving relations with Morocco an attractive way for Algeria’s military to distract a restless Algerian public.

Recent Exchange of official visits between the two countries and encouraging press declarations by Morocco’s Foreign Minister and Algeria’s Agriculture Minister regarding the possible opening of the borders are signs of a thawing in the relations between Rabat and Algiers.

In the past, observers wrongly construed some of these same diplomatic activities as a prelude to a warming of relations between the two neighbors. However, a rare “shortage” of the usual Algerian political, media and diplomatic coverage of the activities of the self-proclaimed Saharan Republic may signal a different approach by the Algerian military establishment in their handling of the conflict with Morocco over the Western Sahara. Since the collapse of the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia and the beginning of the conflict in Libya, the Algerian Government and its official press “drastically” reduced the exposure of the Western Sahara rebels (the Polisario Front) activities in Algeria and curtailed the “diplomatic maneuvers” of the Algerian diplomacy on this dossier.

During Algeria’s Foreign Minister last visit to Washington, the Western Sahara was not on the agenda, according to reports in the Algerian press. In fact pro-military news outlets in Algiers have been circulating articles “reproving” Washington and Paris of pressuring Algeria to open its borders with Morocco to “save” the Moroccan regime. Moroccan and Algerian observers regard these stories as means to prepare the Algerian public for a soon to be announced change of position by the Algerian government on the Sahara issue.

In addition, the website "Polisario Confidential “reported that the Algerian intelligence service, the DRS (Department Intelligence and Security), has taken over all the international activities of the Polisario and has asked the Algerian President Bouteflika to limit the role of the Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs, known for his fervent anti-Moroccan positions- in handling this sensitive dossier. The DRS, weary of further negative ramifications resulting from Algeria’s pro-Gaddafi policy and reports of Polisario elements fighting for the account of Tripoli, has decided to limit Polisario’s activities inside and outside Algeria unless approved by the Algerian Military Security Agency.

For its part and according to the Algerian newspaper “Liberte”, the Moroccan government has asked the Moroccan militant group “Association for the Moroccan Sahara” (ASM) to curb its activities. If confirmed, the news of the dissolution of the ASM, Morocco most virulent critic of Algeria’s position in the Western Sahara conflict, will be an indicator of vigorous and serious back room negations between Rabat and Algiers over resuming normal relations.

The ongoing domestic social tensions In Morocco and Algerian make the decision of open the borders attractive to both governments. However, for now, the information remains a rumor that needs official confirmation to become a reality.

By HASSAN MASIKY

Source: Morocco Board.
Link: http://www.moroccoboard.com/viewpoint/68/5248.