Politics

Algeria condemns Israel’s recognition of Western Sahara

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2023

Algeria has labelled as a violation of international law, Israel’s decision to support Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.

Morocco’s North African neighbour, through its Foreign Ministry in a statement on Thursday, said “the decision… can in no way legitimize sovereignty over occupied Sahara lands”

The statement also claimed that Israel’s decision reflects “the coherence of the occupiers’ policies and their joint collusion in disregarding international laws and trampling on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with its capital, Jerusalem, and the Sahrawi people’s full and unaltered right to self-determination.”

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the p
President of Algeria, stated that the two nations’ relations had come to “a point of no return” earlier this year. Before Tebboune’s outburst, Algeria had cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, citing “hostile acts” of Rabat.

Morocco appeared to have edged the contest for Western Sahara when Israel on Monday announced the recognition of Morocco’s claim of the very sparsely inhabited Western Sahara, and revealed that it was considering opening a consulate at Dakhla. Already, twenty-eight other countries —mostly African and Arab— have consulates in Dakhla.

Following Israel’s announcement, its ally, the United States maintained that its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara remained unchanged.

The US under President Donald Trump in 2020 recognized Morocco’s claim to the territory in return for Morocco’s resumption of diplomatic ties with Israel.

Since the 1960s, Morocco has insisted on ownership of Western Sahara and considers the entire region an integral component of its Kingdom, and solely refers to it as “Moroccan Sahara”, “Saharan provinces”, or “Southern Provinces.”

Related Topics:Featured Israel Morocco Western Sahara

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.