Western Sahara conflict underpins Morocco and Algeria's selective silence' on attack against Iran

"Both North African countries have avoided condemning the bombings on Iranian soil amid ongoing diplomatic talks, which are scheduled to resume in Washington in May in a regional dispute that is about to turn 50 years old. Last year, the U.S. announced major investments by its companies in the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara, considered by the United Nations a non-self-governing territory."

"Morocco—which severed relations with Iran in 2018 after accusing it of rearming the Polisario Front national liberation movement in Western Sahara—has once again ignored the attacks on a fellow Muslim state. Meanwhile, Algeria has reversed course on its earlier rejection of the U.S.-Israeli offensive against the Islamic Republic conducted in June."

"Morocco, through its Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, has condemned Iran's atrocious attacks against its Arab neighbors at the Arab League. However, this expression of solidarity with brotherly Arab countries failed to mention Lebanon, which is suffering a large-scale Israeli offensive, and also made no reference to the attacks against Iran, a Shia Muslim state."

Morocco and Algeria are strategically managing their positions on US and Israeli military actions against Iran, influenced by ongoing negotiations over the Western Sahara territorial dispute. Both countries have refrained from condemning the strikes despite the escalating Middle East conflict. Morocco, which severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2018 over alleged support for the Polisario Front independence movement, has selectively expressed solidarity with Arab neighbors through the Arab League while avoiding direct criticism of the attacks. Algeria has reversed its earlier rejection of the US-Israeli offensive. These diplomatic maneuvers occur as Washington facilitates direct dialogue between the two nations regarding Western Sahara, with talks scheduled to resume in Washington in May, a dispute approaching its 50th anniversary.

Read at english.elpais.com