ALGERIA EXPELS TWELVE FRENCH AGENTS

Relations between Algiers and Paris have been experiencing a period of tension dating back to French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Morocco in October of last year. Last week, Algiers expelled 12 French agents believed to be members of the intelligence services.

There is no connection between Macron's visit to Rabat and the expulsion of the 12 agents. They are two separate issues. The problem lies in Paris's announced decision to respond by expelling Algerian agents from France.

There is a great deal of effort to soothe the tension between Paris and Algiers. Recently, sources likely connected to Rabat announced that the Algerian army would participate for the first time in the upcoming "Lion 25" military exercises.

These maneuvers are held annually and are organized by the United States and the Alaouite Kingdom, with the purpose of demonstrating that Rabat and Washington are two important allies.

As expected, the information was false. Algiers has never shown interest in such maneuvers, given the existing rivalry with Morocco. Algiers didn't even have to refute the false information. It was a manipulation from start to finish.

Morocco will likely welcome the worsening of relations between Paris and Algiers. Rabat and Algiers do not maintain diplomatic relations; the border between the two countries is closed, and both are strengthening their militaries, acquiring state-of-the-art Russian weapons on the part of the Algerians; while the Moroccans are doing the same in the United States.

The language of war used by both sides relates to Morocco's occupation of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. In violation of the UN Charter and international law, Morocco considers Western Sahara to belong to it, calling it "our southern provinces."

The United Nations has never accepted Morocco's occupation of the former Spanish colony. Their preferences are for an autonomy referendum, which has not yet been held due to Rabat's refusal to consult legitimate Sahrawis.