In an interview with the French daily «L'Opinion» published this Sunday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune addressed the issue of the Sahara. Tebboune firmly reiterated his rejection of France's recognition of the territory's Moroccan sovereignty, stating that he had cautioned French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, «You're making a serious mistake!» The revelation of Macron's decision was initially disclosed by the Algerian Foreign Minister during a press briefing last August. The French President had informed Tebboune of his stance on the Sahara during a sideline discussion at the G20 summit held in June in Bari, Italy. President Tebboune also addressed allegations regarding Algeria's support for the Polisario Front, denying that his country was supplying arms to the group. «The Saharawis are asking for weapons, which we are refraining from giving them for the time being», he asserted. He emphasized that «SADR» is a recognized member of the African Union and lauded the fact that «international and European justice is progressively recognizing the rights of the Saharawi people», referring to the European Court of Justice's rulings delivered on October 4, 2024. Regarding relations with Morocco, which have been severed since August 2021, President Tebboune described the situation as «a game of chess in which we are forced to respond to acts we deem hostile». He criticized Morocco's «expansionist aims» and expressed concern over the military exercises conducted by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) alongside the Israeli army near the Algerian border. «This is contrary to the policy of good neighborliness», he remarked.
