Arab Maghreb Union: Bouteflika Responds To Mohammed VI

Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, contradicted himself in the case of the Arab Maghreb Union, and made lately two statements that are not understood by observers, as he signed the death of the AMU, saying that the flame of the Arab Maghreb Union has been extinguished, in the absence of faith in a common destiny, them comes back to renew his country’s choice of the Maghreb as a “strategic bet”.

President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the leaders of the Maghreb exchange congratulations on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the founding of the Union, as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika called on the peoples and leaders of the Maghreb to work on the embodiment of the Maghreb Union in the field, and renewed the determination and willingness of Algerian people and leadership to work in this direction.

He said in his letter, which was addressed to, the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, Tunisian President, Beji Caid Essebsi, Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, and Chairman of the Libyan National Accord Government, Fayez Al-Sarraj;” This day is very important for us because it is a good opportunity to reflect on the dream of the peoples of the Maghreb region since a long time, to build a unitary body that would contribute to the development and prosperity of our peoples, and contribute to the lifting of the word and the positions of the Arab Maghreb, within the various regional and continental powers that characterize the current world”.

“It is true that the Arab Maghreb Union is today waiting for more effort and work in order to achieve the spirit and objectives that are established by the Treaty of Marrakech”.

“Algerian people and leadership are determined to concerted efforts with the rest of the peoples and leaders of the Maghreb brothers, to make our Maghreb Union more and more present for the contribution to the service of the unity of the Arab nation and the African Union, and to promote peace, security and stability in the Mediterranean region”.

Observers think that the message of the President Bouteflika to the Maghreb leaders, is an implicit response to the speech of the Moroccan king at the conclusion of the AU summit, when he said, “It is clear that the flame of the Arab Maghreb Union has been extinguished, in the absence of faith in a common destiny, as the dream of the Maghreb, which was fought by the pioneers in the fifties of the last century, is currently facing betrayal”.

Words of Mohammed VI did not last long, and he returned to his letter on the Arab Maghreb Union creation day, to renew his country’s option of the Maghreb as a “strategic bet and his strong belief in the need to overcome the current political stalemate and activating the Maghreb union’s institutions”.

He also called for the need to “strengthen” the structures of the Union in order to make it “a source of strength for its five countries and to play an active role in the face of the various regional and international challenges, and contribute as a regional economic group in achieving the noble objectives of the African Union”.

Previously, Abdelkader Messahel, Maghreb, African and Arab Affairs Minister, announced on a forthcoming meeting of the Maghreb Countries’ Foreign Ministers, that may be held in Tunis to discuss the Union’s reactivation.

He revealed that he asked the Union’s General Secretary, during an earlier meeting, to prepare a comprehensive vision on the project to be discussed during the next meeting. 

Messahel refused to blame any party over the union’s rigidity, asserting that Algeria made several efforts for the success of the Maghreb Union.