Last night, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sat down for an interview with local media, seizing the moment to criticize nations backing Morocco's position on the Sahara, dismissing them as «imperialists». «I will not abandon the Sahrawis to appease some and become an imperialist myself. Beyond our stance, the rest is a matter of imperialism. What do I stand to lose by continuing to support Western Sahara?» he questioned. «Today, Western Sahara is recognized by half of the African Union members (in reality, less than a third, editor's note). There are 55 states that recognize the Sahrawi Republic (actually, only about half as many, editor's note)», the president claimed. «We have learned to resist. Our principles remain unchanged». The head of state defended Algeria's support for the Polisario Front, rejecting the notion that this stance has only brought «hostility» towards Algeria. Tebboune insisted that «there are no more pragmatic people than Algerians». He pointed to «the strong relations Algeria maintains with the United States, Russia, and China. Non-alignment is in our blood». However, the president avoided discussing the ongoing tensions with the European Union.
