Lost Wall: The Forgotten Fate of China’s Great Barrier
Diplomatic Tensions Rise Between France and Algeria Over Western Sahara Issue
In recent days, the diplomatic relations between France and Algeria have been strained due to a speech and decisions made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the Western Sahara problem. Macron officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara in July 2024, which led to Algeria’s decision to withdraw its ambassador from Paris, escalating tensions between the two countries.
The Western Sahara issue, which dates back to 1975, remains unresolved and has caused one of the longest military fortifications in the world to be built in Africa. The region, located on the Atlantic Ocean and disputed between Morocco and Algeria, has been a source of conflict for decades since Spain’s colony was relinquished.
The conflict escalated when the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, began fighting against Moroccan claims to the region. While Morocco proposes extended autonomy as a solution to the issue, the Polisario Front seeks a referendum to determine the region’s fate. The Western Sahara wall, built by Morocco in the 1980s to withstand attacks from the Polisario Front, spans 2,700 kilometers and took seven years to complete.
Despite efforts by the United Nations to organize a ceasefire and a referendum in 1991, the dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front prevented a resolution. Clashes resumed in 2020, leading to Algeria cutting diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021. The ongoing tensions between the two countries highlight the complexity of the Western Sahara issue and its impact on regional stability.
