Algeria has suspended, with immediate effect, the friendship treaty signed in October 2002 with Spain; yet another Algerian measure since Madrid chose to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Algerian presidency. « The Spanish authorities have engaged in a campaign to justify the position they have adopted on Western Sahara in violation of their legal, moral and political obligations as the administering power of the territory », says its press release.
The text goes on to state that « these same authorities, who bear responsibility for an unjustifiable reversal of their position since the announcements of March 18, 2022, by which the current Spanish government gave its full support to the illegal and illegitimate formula of internal autonomy advocated by the occupying power, seek to promote a colonial fait accompli by using fallacious arguments ».
Algeria has thus deemed it appropriate to « proceed with the immediate suspension of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation which it concluded on 8 October 2002 with the Kingdom of Spain and which until now governed the development of relations between the two countries.
Algiers continue to want to punish Madrid for supporting Morocco. Also on Wednesday, the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (Abef) contacted Algerian banks to inform them of the freezing of bank domiciliations for imports and exports from and to Spain from this Thursday, June 9.
Spain regretted « the announcement of the Algerian presidency » concerning the suspension of the friendship treaty. She reiterated “her full availability to continue to maintain and develop special relations of cooperation” with Algeria considered “as a neighboring and friendly country”.
On the subject of the trade freeze, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Ambarès said on Thursday that Spain is preparing an « adequate, calm and constructive, but firm, response for the defense of Spanish interests and Spanish companies ». .
The European Union said it was “extremely concerned” by this situation, urging the two countries to work through diplomatic channels to resolve the dispute.
By OMA Newsletter N° 734 of 09/06/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
