DR ‹ › On Tuesday in Algiers, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf held talks with Christopher Landau, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. The discussions primarily revolved around «the progress of the political process aimed at resolving the Western Sahara issue,» as reported by Algerian diplomatic sources following the announcement of the meeting by the U.S. Embassy in Algiers. The meeting also covered «bilateral cooperation between the United States and Algeria, including trade partnerships and joint efforts to enhance regional stability, security, and economic prosperity,» stated the American diplomatic mission. This underscores the intensity of the negotiations, as the topic had already been broached on April 17 in Turkey during a meeting between Ahmed Attaf and Massad Boulos, a special advisor to President Donald Trump on African and Arab affairs. On Monday, Christopher Landau engaged in discussions in Algiers with Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mohamed Hanifi, Minister of Mines, and Tayeb Zitouni Rezig, Minister of Trade and Export Promotion. These talks centered on «ongoing collaboration and new opportunities to foster innovation and strengthen energy and trade ties between the United States and Algeria, particularly by supporting the development of natural resources and identifying areas for future cooperation,» according to the U.S. Embassy in Algiers. Following this stop in Algeria, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State is scheduled to visit Rabat. Washington is working to bring together the neighboring countries, along with Mauritania and the Polisario, for a new round of talks in the coming weeks, consistent with agreements reached during the initial meeting in February at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. The United States is urging Algiers to adhere to this timeline. Moreover, Christopher Landau's visit to Algeria coincided with that of the AFRICOM chief. On Tuesday, General Anderson met with the Minister Delegate for Defense and Chief of Staff, General Saïd Chengriha. «The discussions focused on continued coordination, common regional challenges, and efforts to promote stability, reflecting mutual respect and a shared commitment to regional peace and security,» stated the U.S. Embassy in Algiers.
