The Arab Maghreb Union put to the test by tensions between Morocco and Tunisia
The invitation of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario, to Tunisia angered Rabat.
(illustrative image) Corbis via Getty Images - Stefano Montesi - Corbis
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The current crisis between Morocco and Tunisia extends its spectrum to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) which is, once again, faced with a difficult ordeal to overcome.
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This structure, founded 33 years ago and headquartered in Rabat, Morocco, is one of eight regional structures in Africa.
Its role is to politically and economically bring together the five member countries of the Maghreb.
Strongly affected already by the differences between Algiers and Rabat on the question of Western Sahara, could this structure survive the new crisis between Rabat and Tunis, because of the invitation addressed by the latter to Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario ?
"
We are preparing for Tunisia to lead the mediation between Algiers and Rabat, and here we are surprised by a new crisis
", is in despair Taieb Baccouche, secretary general of the Arab Maghreb Union.
He had just launched an initiative for
a "retreat
" of the foreign ministers of the five member countries of the Union with the aim
of "drawing up a peace plan for Libya
" and holding "
bilateral meetings to discuss the differences
".
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To
read also: Western Sahara: the diplomatic escalation continues between Tunisia and Morocco
Only two countries responded to his appeal: Mauritania and Libya.
"
Each country is absorbed by its own problems and is less concerned with regional issues
," explains the AMU secretary general, who does not hide his helplessness in the face of the ordeal that diplomatic relations between Morocco, Tunisia and Tunisia are going through. on the one hand and Morocco and Algeria on the other.
If the permanent tension between Morocco and Algeria has left deep traces on the role of this regional structure, the current state of diplomatic relations between the three Maghreb countries puts it in a state of "
brain death
", assure several observers.
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To
read also: The presence of the leader of the Polisario Front at Ticad arouses criticism even in Tunisia
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Morocco
Tunisia
Western Sahara