Algeria’s upper house, the Council of the Nation, announced on Monday the immediate termination of its relations with the French Senate, including the cessation of the parliamentary cooperation protocol signed on September 8, 2015.
The decision was made in response to a recent visit by French Senate Speaker Gérard Larcher to El Aaiún, the main city in Western Sahara controlled by the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
In an official statement, the Council of the Nation condemned the visit, describing it as “a concerning and extreme incident” that reflects the growing influence of far-right forces in France. The statement asserted that the visit “disregards international legitimacy” and “sharply contradicts” United Nations Security Council resolutions intended to uphold human rights and the right of colonized peoples to self-determination. Under the leadership of Salah Goudjil, the Council held France responsible for what it termed a “provocative and ostentatious” act tied to colonial policies and biased decision-making.
The move follows long-standing tensions over the Western Sahara issue—a dispute that has strained relations between Algeria and Morocco for decades. The conflict dates back to 1975 after Spain’s withdrawal from the territory, when Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front entered into a bitter struggle that eventually led to a ceasefire in 1991. While Morocco claims sovereignty over most of Western Sahara and proposes extensive autonomy for the region, the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria, advocates for a referendum on self-determination. The United Nations does not recognize the sovereignty claims of either party.
Algerian officials stressed that the decision to cut ties with the French Senate was a direct reaction to the visit, which they believe undermines international norms and the UN Charter. The termination of this longstanding parliamentary cooperation marks a significant diplomatic rift, highlighting the sensitivity of the Western Sahara issue in regional geopolitics.
As tensions continue to simmer, the move is expected to have broader implications for bilateral relations between Algeria and France, as well as for international discussions on decolonization and self-determination in disputed territories.
Azerbaijan's education system is showing some of its strongest signs of progress in years, with the latest ...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, ...
At least five people have died and more than 80 others remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fi...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
At least five people have died and more than 80 others remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the western Philippines, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation involving the coast guard, government agencies and local fishing communities.
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on its way to Norway, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, warning that escalating drone warfare and attacks on civilian infrastructure are deepening the country's already devastating humanitarian crisis.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment