Amid Algeria's cautious official silence over the fast-moving developments on the Western Sahara issue at the United Nations, authorities in Algiers have turned to media outlets close to them to voice their position. These outlets have launched sharp attacks on France and the United Arab Emirates, accusing both countries of exerting «intense pressure» within the Security Council to push through a resolution recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Amid ongoing official silence from Algiers over the latest developments on the Sahara issue at the United Nations, Algerian media outlets have launched a coordinated campaign against France and the United Arab Emirates, accusing both countries of exerting «strong pressure» within the Security Council to pass a resolution recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. This media offensive comes against the backdrop of persistent tension between Algeria and both Paris and Abu Dhabi. Algerian–French relations have been in crisis for over a year, ever since France publicly endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for the territory. Meanwhile, ties between Algeria and the UAE have also soured, with Algiers accusing Abu Dhabi of seeking to undermine its influence in the Sahel and of attempting to «sow division» within the region. According to the daily el Hayat, citing «informed sources», French and Emirati diplomats are conducting a «systematic pressure campaign» targeting the 15 Security Council members through «methods that contradict diplomatic norms and UN standards». The paper claimed these efforts were aimed at weakening Algeria's «principled stance» in support of the «Sahrawi people's right to self-determination». Similarly, Ennahar quoted «sources» saying that both Abu Dhabi and Paris are exerting «significant pressure» to secure the adoption of a resolution recognizing Moroccan sovereignty, calling it a «serious breach of UN ethics and procedures». The website Dzair Tube accused the UAE of «using its wealth to buy political influence at the expense of an entire people», while alleging that France «has chosen its economic interests over its historical principles». It warned that such maneuvers threaten «the credibility of the United Nations» and risk «destabilizing North Africa and the Sahel». Echoing the same rhetoric, La Patrie News cited «diplomatic sources» claiming that Paris and Abu Dhabi have been holding «intensive bilateral meetings» with several council members «to secure votes in favor of a draft resolution that legitimizes the status quo». Meanwhile, Al-Masdar reported, based on «converging sources», that France and the UAE have been «mobilizing all their weight in recent days» to shift the positions of both permanent and non-permanent members on the Sahara question. Two days ago, Algeria appeared to respond to these developments through controlled media leaks. Newspapers close to decision-making circles, including El Khabar and Le Soir d'Algérie, quoted «sources in New York» suggesting that Algeria may abstain from voting on the upcoming Security Council resolution concerning Moroccan sovereignty. At the same time, Algerian outlets speculated about Russia's position, suggesting Moscow might refrain from using its veto to block the US-drafted text. Echorouk noted that «although Moscow has shown little enthusiasm for a veto, the option remains open», adding that «Moscow and Algiers could coordinate diplomatic efforts to convince other states to withhold their support, thereby preventing the resolution's adoption without resorting to a veto».
