Dili: The regional seminar of the UN Committee of 24 (C24), which recently concluded its work in Dili, Timor-Leste, was marked by the usual Moroccan-Algerian verbal exchanges, in the form of two right of reply.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Head of the Algerian delegation criticized Morocco’s discourse, alleging that Algeria was being unfairly singled out and claiming that it is not a party to the Moroccan Sahara dispute. In response, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, pointed out Algeria’s involvement, stating, “Who created the ‘polisario’? It was Algeria. Where is it located? On Algerian soil. Who is financing it? It’s Algeria. Who is leading the diplomatic campaigns against Morocco? It’s Algeria again.”

Reacting to Algeria’s pseudo-observer status, Ambassador Hilale remarked on Algeria’s contradictory stance, stating that the country has been blocking the political settlement of the regional dispute by opposing the resumption of the political process for three years. He criticized the Algerian diplomat for using outdated narratives, which do not consider significant developments over the past 25 years.

Hilale further challenged Algeria’s narrative, questioning why it never references Security Council resolutions since 2000, which contradict its position by acknowledging the preeminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative and holding Algeria accountable. He suggested that Algeria’s discourse is fixated on the early stages of the dispute, ignoring positive diplomatic developments.

Responding to claims that Algeria was once the center of African liberation movements, Hilale asserted that Algiers has become a hub for destabilization, terrorism, and separatism, contributing to the rise of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and Daesh in Africa.

Finally, Hilale addressed Algeria’s stance on self-determination, challenging the country to grant this right to the Kabyle people within its own borders, whose claims date back to before the creation of the Algerian State.