Security expert warns of Algeria-Morocco arms race

An Algerian security expert has warned of tension threatening the Maghreb and Sahel regions due to the dispute between Algeria and Morocco over Western Sahara.

“The tension between Morocco and the Polisario Front which the UN warned against in a statement on Monday,” Karim Moulai told Quds Press, “does not affect Morocco and the Polisario only, but also Algeria, which backs the Polisario for self-determination in Western Sahara.”

Moulai explained that the situation is getting more dangerous due to the arms race led by Algeria and Morocco. “Through its military ties with Russia, Algeria has two main objectives: the first is to possess adequate weapons to counter any unexpected popular uprising, particularly on the south-eastern border with Libya.” The second goal, he noted, is regional. “Algeria will utilise Russian arms against any Moroccan ambition to impose a fait accompli on the Western Sahara.”

According to Moulai, the reports of closer Algeria-Russia military relations confirm that the recent friendship messages between Algeria and Morocco were not serious.

“I believe that Rabat will face great difficulties in building a similar relationship to the one that links Algeria with Russia,” he added, “not only because of economic conditions and big challenges in Morocco, but also because of the long history of Russian-Algerian relations and commonly-held positions on regional issues, particularly their support for the Syrian regime.”