Sharpen your leadership skills, join the army national guard
 
 
Saturday, 04 Jul 2009
 
 
Morocco - Algeria: Similarity and Antagonism
HASSAN MASIKY
Morocco reaches out to Algeria

Both countries share the same language, religion, long borders and a good portion of their respective history. And yet today, it is hard to escape the level of animosity between the two people.  Whenever I surf the Web in search of news on Morocco, I end up in forums where posting exchanges between Moroccans and Algerians are heated and unfortunately rude, personal, hurtful and in many instances tactless.  A quick research of these posting let me to the conclusion that if it was not for the Sahara issue, Moroccans and Algerians will get along much better.

Both countries share the same language, religion, long borders and a good portion of their respective history. And yet today, it is hard to escape the level of animosity between the two people.  Whenever I surf the Web in search of news on Morocco, I end up in forums where posting exchanges between Moroccans and Algerians are heated and unfortunately rude, personal, hurtful and in many instances tactless.  A quick research of these posting let me to the conclusion that if it was not for the Sahara issue, Moroccans and Algerians will get along much better.
A number of Algerian websites (NOT ALL) are taking up the role of Polisario propaganda machines, masking their biases by planting and wording Polisario misinformation as legitimate news items. These activities inevitably incite rage and indignation from Moroccans who in return react with outrage to these acts.  To take matter further, some Moroccan and Algerian websites are currently clearing houses for negative news stories on each other, interestingly  so Tunisian news are non existent on the same Websites. This ongoing drama is futile, self-defeating and a huge mismanagement of talent and creativity of capable Moroccans and Algerians. So why keep doing it? To attempt to answer this question, one has to look at the political history of modern Morocco and Algeria specially:  The newly independent Algeria's annexation of the Moroccan territories of Bechar and Tindouf, the Sand Wars of 1963, the return of the Western Sahara to Morocco; and the political changes in Morocco and lack thereof in Algeria.
 
Aside from the question of political changes, the rest of the outstanding issues between Rabat and Algiers are old, mute and irrelevant to today's generation; and thus there is no reason to dwell on them. On the economic front, today we see a new breed of leaders in Morocco taking over key positions and bring in a new perspective to old problems. Today's Morocco, with all of its poverty and mediocre educational system, is resiliently a vibrant place where you can open a business, start a company, join a political party and have, to some degree, open discussion on critical matters. These significant developments did not happen by chance, but rather are the results of efforts by King Mohammed VI and the civil society to modernize the country. In contrast, Algeria seems stuck in the Boumedienne era. In effect, a good number of leaders in today's Algerian political apparatus, including President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, are leftovers from the Boumedienne days. This political stagnation is having devastating effects on the Algerian economy and society.  While Morocco and Tunisia have made great strides toward economic transformation, Algeria is alarmingly lagging behind. Judging by the significant amount of direct foreign investments in Tunisia and Morocco, big international firms have consistently showed confidence in the economic system and the health of the economies of both countries.  Algeria wealthy in oil, gas, and young vibrant population should be ahead of both of its neighbors in economic development. Smart, intelligent and entrepreneurial young Algerians are very successful in Canada and Europe and willing to go back to their homeland to help and share their successes with their countrymen by investing and contributing their expertise. The same young Algerians who can save the country are systematically marginalized by the current political leadership that is benefiting from the status quo at the expense of the Algerian people. Simply put, if Morocco and Tunisia can do it, so can Algeria.
 
Algeria has all the ingredients to be an economic power house in North Africa, but unfortunately this is not the case. This wasted wealth is obviously the result of corruption and mismanagement at the higher echelon of the Algerian political establishment and not lack of resources and human capital which Algeria has had with abundance. Mind you, Morocco just like Algeria is plagued with corruption, unnecessary red tape, nepotism and a slow moving bureaucracy; and recently in Algeria illegal immigration toward Europe (Nearly half of Algeria's young men want to migrate illegally to Europe, a poll published December 2008 suggests, illustrating the social unease of this North African nation.(AP 12/04/2008) ). The difference, however, is that in Morocco there is a political will to tackle these issues and resolve them. This political will is sorrowfully absent in El Mouradia. Many Moroccans hope to see a new generation in charge in Algeria. A generation that views Morocco as a brother and not a nemesis. History has shown that change comes whether or not we like it, lets hope for a positive one for the sake of a united Maghreb (Arabo-Amazigh).

 

 

Author: Hassan Masiky is a native of Kenitra, Morocco. He graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with a degree in political science in 1991. Upon graduation, Hassan joined the Washington DC based non government organization the Parliamentary Human Rights Foundation (PHRF) where he worked as a consultant for USAID democracy projects in Mexico, Haiti, Republic of Georgia and the European Parliament. After leaving PHRF, Hassan dedicated his time advising Amnesty International USA on African and Middle Eastern affairs and representing the organization in press conferences. Mr. Masiky was a host on several television shows discussing human rights and democracy. He is currently working for a Federal Agency in the Washington area. 

 


Comments (13)Add comments
El Younsi Mohamed
Boudi, \"mindset\"!
12/29/08
 
Title:
Friend Boudi, sorry I didn’t answer your question#1 clearly, as I should! Anyway, from psychological stand point, I guess I can say: a “mindset” is a cognitive system, which consists of a nomenclature of: intelligence, feeling, vision, wisdom, or thinking, acting, emotion, behavior, etc! These are briefly the elements that essentially make up the mindset of a person, and drive her/him to decide , and act pursuant to her/his wishes and likes! When I mentioned the algerian "mindset", I did that within political perspective, base on action, and political practices!
Thank you

El Younsi Mohamed
Mr. Boudi
12/29/08
 
Title:
Mr. Boudi,
First, I am not an aggressor, nor am-I a victim! I have no reason to be! Yes, I am confident of what I said. Since you seem to be so concerned, I would redirect you to reread my comment to Mr. Masiky. I mentioned forums where I usually debate your friends, in where I developed such a curiousity to learn more about them! I also gave an example of that “soldier” who gave info relating to what he called the "Tank Unit stationed close the border with Morocco"! That is not all, but just an example! Now how can you verify that, I don’t know! I guess, you need to be active in reading and participating in Moroccan forums! By the way, that was on “Hespresse” forum. I can also tell you, I debated your friends on “Aujourd’hui le Maroc” forum, before it suspended its activities! It is operating again, but I am not that active now! With respect to the “mindset”, again I can tell you briefly: by reading daily Algerian newspapers, I was able to diagnose their mental illness against Morocco! You are probably familiar with what I mean! If you read the Algerian media, which I am sure you do, and if you are impartialo, you would agree! You will feel intense competition between your military apparatus, political leaders, and the people by and large, in terms of daily needs! Oh! I forgot, “terrorist” may be! In sum, I have to be honest, I cannot explain to you in this forum what I mean by the “mindset”, but I can tell you that for 30 years, your government did nothing but to build a hostile mindset against the people of Morocco! It does not differentiate between the people of Morocco, and their government! The prime chapter of the Algerian diplomacy has been the Moroccan Sahara, nothing more nothing less! There are many examples of separatism, but....! That was, is, and will remain the practice of the government of Algeria! These practices have been demonstrated almost daily for 30 years of this conflict! I don’t want to talk about the tragedy of the defunct president Boudiaf! Your government threw out thousands of innocent Moroccans simply because of their country organized a Green March! Do you deny that? Do you want me to continue? What was the guilt of those innocent people? How many times did Morocco offer to turn the page, and what was the response of your government?
Listen Mr. Boudi,except for self defense, I will never aggress any thing, nevermind a human being! Please don’t confuse me with any political entity, which I don't believe my country is an agressor! A government, is a highly complicated system of hierarchies, constitution, Laws and Laws’ agencies, duties, and responsibilities, etc..! I am a simple scholar!
Thank you for your comment

boudi
...
12/28/08
 
Title:
I usually hate it when aggressors dress them selves as victims, but this time its just ridiculously funny.
You have a long post so i will only comment on the most ideas i find surprising....

1- by reading the Algerian media daily, I learned too much about the politics and the” mindset” of the Algerian officials!"

LOL..... i wouldn't want to comment on this so early, but i kindly request you further elaborate by what you mean when you say "mind set"

2-"Their interventions mostly hostile and insulting and can only be explained by the fact that the Algerian government is engaged in a long term war against us! Its intelligent services are watching us 24/7, and 365 days a year! To me, these are the elites of the Algerian politico- military apparatus who are working hard to trap individuals in an attempt to implement their strategy! In doing so, they are in fact making the fight sounds like it is between the Algerian and Moroccan people not between the two governments! It appears that both people (Algerians and Moroccans) are not yet at that level of intelligence to avoid the trap!"

Thats the second most hysterical and unmature comment I have ever read, they are intelligence officers, their job is to watch out for potential threats. And I doubt they would spend their time on internet forums.

"For this very reason, I came to conclude long time ago these “Fuzz=Nuts” are no more than the Algerian intelligent services and their mercenaries who are simply doing their dirty job!"

3amor
...
12/24/08
 
Title:
connaissez vous beaucoup de pays arabe qui fabrique et envoie des satellites? moi je ne connais que l'algérie alsat 1 et bientot alsat 2

El Younsi Mohamed
south is forever moroccan
12/19/08
 
Title:
Thank you brother Mohamed Amine! I appreciate you comments

mohamed amine
south is forever moroccan
12/17/08
 
Title:
i agree with brother El Younsi, very few Moroccans are educated about the issue, and we are ambassadors representing the people, country and history of Morocco. Ambassadors are careful when they speak. The bottom line is that Al Maghreb is in its Sahara and the Sahara is in its Maghreb. The Moroccan people of our southern provinces are in Layoune, Guelmim, Al Dakhla, Legouira all over, surly not in Algeria.
Allah-Watan-Malik

Salam
...
12/15/08
 
Title:
The truth that hurt...
Le ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération, Taieb Fassi Fihri, a dénoncé, vendredi à Genève, les déclarations et les écrits alléguant, notamment au cours des dernières semaines, de soi-disant violations des droits de l'Homme dans les provinces du sud du Royaume.

El Younsi Mohamed
...
12/15/08
 
Title:
Tout a fait Mr. Hmidou, Je suis d'accord, en demandant l'ouverture des frontiere, le Maroc n'a fait qu'a humilier son peuple! Le gouvernment Marocain n'a pas demander l'avis du peuple pour vous en parler de ce problem! Vous "gouvernment algerian" en revenche, vous l'avait pris comme quoi la famine est entrain de detruire le peuple Marocaim "pauvre", et que le gouvernment Marocain a besoin de votre aid!!!!!! Bien que cela n'a fait que devoiler votre stupidite il ne nous regard pas ce que vous pensez de nous! Que l'Algerie conclu des accords commerciaux, or des contracts avec deas autres cela demeur son probleme, il ne nous intersse abasolument pas ce qu'elle fait!Au contraire, il sera de notre interet de voir le peuple algerien en prosperite! Mais il nous interesse extremement bien de dfendre notre integrite territorial! Si ce pays veut encore maintenire son intransigeance dans nos affaires, croyez moi, il ne sera jamais en paix avec nous! Le movement separatists "algerosario" se dit representer ceux qui sont venu du Yemen au Maroc aux environs du XIV ciecle! Alors vous devez le saoir, le Yemen n'est plus le Maroc et e Maroc n'est plus le Yemen, alors ils sont les bien venus de faire leurs bagages et de reqartire vers le YEMEN d'accord!

hmidou
...
12/14/08
 
Title:
Le Maroc a saisi l'occasion de la commémoration du 60ème anniversaire de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme pour lancer de virulentes attaques contre l'Algérie, accusée de «séquestrer» des Marocains dans les camps de Tindouf.

C'est le roi Mohammed VI qui, sans citer nommément l'Algérie, a ouvert le bal mercredi dernier en dénonçant les « souffrances et les humiliations » que subiraient les « Marocains séquestrés dans les camps de Tindouf ». Il accuse également les « adversaires de l'intégrité territoriale » du Maroc de se livrer à une « instrumentalisation odieuse et grotesque » de la cause des droits de l'homme. Le souverain marocain n'a pas manqué également de faire l'éloge de la solution d'autonomie marocaine, qu'il dit « fondée sur le respect des droits de l'homme » et « destinée à mettre fin au « différend artificiel » du Sahara Occidental qui entrave le développement intégré du Maghreb. Le propos royal a été relayé le lendemain, avec encore plus de virulence, par le Premier ministre marocain, Abbas El Fassi, en accusant l'Algérie « d'entraver l'édification » du Maghreb en « confisquant la liberté » des Sahraouis réfugiés dans les camps de Tindouf. « En confisquant la liberté de nos concitoyens, les autorités algériennes portent gravement atteinte aux liens religieux, historiques et de bon voisinage et entravent l'édification du Maghreb», a affirmé M. El Fassi.




A défaut de décongeler, on chauffe




En tant que chef du parti de l'Istiqlal, qui a toujours considéré que le « Grand Maroc » s'étend jusqu'au Sénégal et englobe la Mauritanie et le Sahara Occidental, une partie du Mali et de l'Algérie, M. El Fassi n'avait pas à se forcer. Il lui suffit de puiser dans le fonds de commerce idéologique de son parti. Il n'est donc pas surprenant de l'entendre affirmer que des « hommes, des femmes et des enfants souffrent de séquestration et de torture et vivent dans des conditions inhumaines à la merci des militaires algériens, en violation manifeste du droit humanitaire international». C'est du gros calibre. Le Premier ministre marocain ne craint pas le ridicule. Les camps de réfugiés sahraouis ne sont ni clos, ni coupés du monde : de nombreuses ONG - pas nécessairement acquises à l'indépendance - y ont régulièrement accès. Cette thèse propagandiste n'est pas prise au sérieux.

On peut même affirmer que la fable de la séquestration des Sahraouis dans les camps de réfugiés de Tindouf. En matière de respect des droits de l'homme, la répression qui sévit à Laayoune, et dans l'ensemble des territoires sahraouis sous contrôle marocain, est une réalité qui ne relève guère de l'instrumentalisation des droits de l'homme. Le thème de la « séquestration » des Sahraouis est destiné à faire croire qu'il n'existe pas de problème sahraoui. Il n'y aurait, selon cette fabrication marocaine, qu'un « problème » algérien, voire, dans le meilleur des cas, un problème posé par le Front Polisario, qualifié de mouvement « séparatiste ». Le Roi avait, au début du mois de novembre, accusé l'Algérie de faire « planer les périls de la balkanisation sur la région du Maghreb et du Sahel».

Le double tir du Roi marocain et de son Premier ministre - intervenu après la première visite de Mohamed Abdelaziz à Bruxelles, où il a rencontré la commissaire aux Relations extérieures Benita Ferrero-Waldner - traduit bien un énervement officiel marocain.




Le Maghreb n'en finit pas de patiner...




A défaut de «décongeler» les relations avec l'Algérie, les responsables marocains semblent vouloir «chauffer» les choses à leur manière. C'est donc, au niveau du discours au moins, une tendance confirmée à la dégradation des relations qui s'installe, Alger ayant fermé l'option de la réouverture des frontières avec le Maroc.

Le ministre délégué chargé des Affaires maghrébines et africaines a conforté le pessimisme maghrébin en relevant que la construction de l'UMA ne « peut se concevoir en dehors de certaines raisons politiques du règlement du conflit du Sahara Occidental». «C'est une question fondamentale dans la construction maghrébine et il y a des clarifications et également des questions à régler». Le second handicap dans la construction maghrébine est que les pays de la région «ont très souvent fait des politiques économiques chacun de son côté». La conclusion que l'on peut tirer des propos de Messahel est qu'il ne peut y avoir de découplage entre le dossier sahraoui et le processus maghrébin. Le paradoxe est que c'était la position du Maroc il y a quelques années. C'est désormais celle de l'Algérie. Il faudra se contenter de petits accords bilatéraux, comme l'accord commercial avec la Tunisie, dont M. Messahel a fait l'éloge. Le Maghreb n'en finit pas de patiner...

achaachaa hassan
moroccoboard
12/11/08
 
Title:
at fist i would like to thank the efforts that have been done to clarify the nature of morocco_algerian relationship , i just want to say that the fight is political and when it comes to mix up traditional, relgious norms with polics , i am sure that all these things will be boiled and burned in terms of patriotism and national intersts to save what is called a nation that is made to find out such a solution for morocco_algeria fightening , historically speaking , and in terms of relegion we dont have to speak about a nation as creating a nation is a political perspective, if we go back to read the real and logic history we will notice that we are one body , one nation and one norms and traditions , finnally , the looser all the time is the people of both nations and the winner is those who take the innnitiation to stable the probelm of morocco algeria as its , i am asking those are aware of this problem to open doors of nogociationnnnnnns and leave out the black history , based on the european union steeps to delevlop the region and give a new birth to those who are dipraved , no more patriotism , no more wars , no more arresting , make a steep , open doors .

El Younsi Mohamed
Forums!
12/07/08
 
Title:
Dear Mr. Masiky;
I believe this is your second article published on this site so, allow me the opportunity to reiterate my suggestion to you! You basically need to be a little more careful, when writing about sensitive issues such as this! Meaning that you need to sort through your ideas, As a reader of your article, I am not going to ask you about statistics to back up your argument, but if you remember, in your first article you missed the point by treating the Spanish NGOs as Spanish government! Now, you are somehow contributing the animosity between Algeria and Morocco based on forums relating to the Sahara conflict, knowing that it is extremely difficult to determine who is who on the internet! I hate to be on the negative side, but I am not sure I agree with you on this! Mr. Masiky, believe it or not, by reading the Algerian media daily, I learned too much about the politics and the” mindset” of the Algerian officials! I don’t participate in their forums, because I don’t want to! However, I can tell you this, for the government of Algeria and its media apparatus, “Morocco” is the enemy # 1! Unfortunately, the Moroccan government stubbornly refuses to admit to this fact, but this remains its problem! It hurts me so bad to see our government insists on being extremely stubborn and not realistic about the real intentions of the government of Algeria! Although, in occasions, our government does seem to be aware of the hostile attitude of the Algerian authority, but they prefer not to match it! In order for you to understand what I mean, follow the news on both sides! Anyway, when you discuss such an issue, make sure you know your facts! In this article, I am not sure you do! I say this with high level of confidence, because in the past, and like many other compatriots, I debated these so-called Algerians on forums such as: “Aujourd’hui le Maroc” forum, “l’Economist”, “Hespress”, “MarocPost” etc.! They intervene under different names, but they all say exactly the same thing and aiming at the same target! This is why I mentioned earlier the “mindset”! Their interventions mostly hostile and insulting and can only be explained by the fact that the Algerian government is engaged in a long term war against us! Its intelligent services are watching us 24/7, and 365 days a year! To me, these are the elites of the Algerian politico- military apparatus who are working hard to trap individuals in an attempt to implement their strategy! In doing so, they are in fact making the fight sounds like it is between the Algerian and Moroccan people not between the two governments! It appears that both people (Algerians and Moroccans) are not yet at that level of intelligence to avoid the trap! Yes, these “Fuzz- Nuts” do intervene in the name of the Algerian people and participate in such forums, but they do it only to hide behind since they are cowered and ignorant by nature! You are right, there are cases where there is lots of confusion and misunderstanding between visitors of forums on both sides depending on the level of education of each person, but that shouldn’t be taken seriously! For this very reason, I came to conclude long time ago these “Fuzz=Nuts” are no more than the Algerian intelligent services and their mercenaries who are simply doing their dirty job! Just recently for instance, on the forum of “Hespress”, some of these idiots were talking about the Algerian military “Tank unit” stationed in the north western of Algeria close to the borders with Morocco! He was certain that this unit is ready to strike any time! What was interesting in his intervention was the bulk of military information he gave up about the unit! That type of information can only be known to military personnel! This is just to say, these people are trained to do their dirty job, and are put there specifically to be the watch dogs for the Algerian military machine! Anyway, there is too much to say about this issue, but I just want our people to be a bit careful and not “to assume” or draw hasty conclusion! Assuming is probably a good word, but it could be misleading! The Algerian people have nothing to do with this! The Algerian people are smarter than their government, and they know the Moroccan people reserve nothing but love and respect for them. Thousands of our Algerian sisters and brothers are living in their country Morocco; they are living in peace and harmony with the rest of the society! This is not the case for Moroccans living in Algeria, or certainly was not the case for the thousands of Moroccan families who have been brutally thrown out of Algeria! We should never forget the fact that because of the Green March, the government of Algeria with no shame or morals brutally threw out thousands of innocent Moroccan families, and confiscated their goods and belongings! Yet, Morocco and the Moroccan people together as a civilized nation, opened their arms and hearts welcoming their Algerian brothers and sisters! For me, that represents the highest level of civilization, and political maturity reached by a country in the history of the modern world! For this reason, I would like to advice our intellects to outsmart these “Fuzz-Nuts”, and counter attack them with logic, facts and intelligence! These dirty busters are using the innocent people of Algeria to promote their own agenda of hate against the people of Morocco!
We are in a serious war; a war that is imposed on us by the government of Algeria! This war is dangerous and manifests its self in so many forms and shapes! Therefore, we are all (government, political parties, intellects etc.) required now more than never before to fight it, and to fight it with intelligence! Look, Algeria is capitalizing on one thing and one thing only which is: the referendum for the Sahrawi people! Our argument should focus on: who are the Sahrawi people, are they unionists, or separatists? Let’s define who are they and where are they? Let’s talk about the legal status of who represents the Sahrawi people? Is it Khat Achahid, GSI, the conference of Kdjijmat, polisario, or the government of Algeria? Our approach should build on the facts, history, and the legitimate rights of the people of Morocco, not to fall into their trap, or use their language to respond to them! We need to learn from our mistakes and try not to repeat them again! We are not in land grabbing competition as advanced by our enemies! Foreign intransigence or any exogenous factor should be counterattacked with extreme determination!
Thank you and bravo!

nabil
...
12/07/08
 
Title:
Your problem is here not the polisario nor Algeria....read! and this is as an exemple for the reaL THING....

"les attentats de Casablanca sont due à la pauvreté et au cumul de haine contre une classe politique pourrie".

Karim
Bad conclusion - Biased Conclusion
12/05/08
 
Title:
I disagree with your conclusion. Why?
Because, I surf many many forums of both "people" and without even mixing the two the debates and discussions between only Algerians or only Moroccans among themsleves carry that "animosity" (a word that I hate to use).
I think you are just adding your prejudice to the ocean of that north african cultural world prejudice.
So my conclusion is that there, in fact, is a big lack of tact in debates and discussions aming our people, but not necessarily because of the Sahara issue, it is because of that big one way communication problem. They have thought the people to only listen with no rom for arguments, fathers raise their kids with a belt or a hose as the convincing argument, teachers use sticks instead of ideas, government uses jail, etc...
With Internet now (the forums you mentioned) it is a good wondow for you to see the results of that opression.
I Hope you will revisit the forums to adjust your perception.

While MoroccoBoard.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. MoroccoBoard.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
...

Write comment
smaller | bigger

busy