After a week of silence, Algerian media has finally commented on Stéphane Séjourné's latest statement on France's economic recognition of the Moroccan Sahara. «This statement is a new threat to relations between Paris and Algeria», says El Khabar. The Arabic-language daily wondered about the «impact» of the Foreign Minister's remarks on «Algerian-French relations». The Algerian government is preparing a visit to France by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the official date of which has not yet been set by both parties. Algerians are due to hold early presidential elections on September 7. On April 8, Stéphane Séjourné reaffirmed his country's willingness to support Morocco in the development of the Sahara. «I said there [on February 26 in Rabat] that we recognized the fact that Morocco is developing this area economically. We have even gone a little further, since we are going to bring in public operators to develop it with them», he stressed. Shortly after Stéphane Séjourné's visit to Rabat on February 26, Algerian media rejoiced over the fact that France failed to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. Last week, Spain's King Felipe VI received the Algerian ambassador, who had come to present his credentials. The Pedro Sánchez government has not yet backtracked on its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.
