Bachir Mustapha Sayed criticizes Algeria's refusal to supply weapons to the Polisario, a decision influenced by signals from Washington that limit Algeria's room for maneuver. In a rare move, Bachir Mustapha Sayed has openly criticized Algeria's stance on arming the Polisario, breaking a long-standing taboo within the movement. Sayed, the brother of the Polisario Front's founder, voiced his concerns during a closed-door meeting of the Polisario's general secretariat, excerpts of which have since leaked. He accused the Algerian authorities of deliberately limiting the scope of the conflict with Morocco, stating that they «do not want the war with Morocco to exceed a certain limit that would be detrimental to their own interests». Sayed also highlighted Algeria's «tutelage» over Polisario's decisions, sparking debates within the Tindouf camps. On social media, opinions are divided: some remain «grateful» to Algeria for its long-standing support since the 1970s, while others question the motivations behind Sayed's remarks. Algeria tries to loosen the grip This criticism comes at a time when Algeria's influence is waning on both international and African stages. The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. political scene has complicated matters for Algeria, prompting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to extend an olive branch to the new administration, as he revealed in an interview with the French daily «L'Opinion». The resurgence of Republicans in the U.S. Congress has alarmed Algerian officials, forcing them to adopt a more cautious stance. Tebboune's recent comments to the French newspaper reflect this shift: «The Sahrawis are demanding weapons that we refrain from giving them for the moment.» Algeria appears to be dialing back its aggressive rhetoric towards Morocco. In January 2024, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita warned in the House of Representatives about «indicators attesting to Algeria's willingness to trigger a war in the region and a military confrontation with Morocco». However, a military escalation seems unlikely given Morocco's status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States since 2004. Following setbacks for Iran and its proxies in the region, Algeria has adjusted its approach, dismissing the Polisario militias' demands for more weapons. This caution is further underscored by Republican Senator Joe Wilson's designation of the Polisario as a terrorist organization. Under mounting pressure, President Tebboune has even expressed Algeria's willingness to normalize relations with Israel, provided a Palestinian state is established.
