Algeria reinstated its ambassador to Madrid on Monday after a year-long protest against Spain's support for Morocco's plan for the Western Sahara. However, trade restrictions with Spain remain, showing the dispute is ongoing.
Algerian diplomat Abdelfettah Daghmoum, along with five others, presented their credentials to Spain’s King Felipe VI. The move follows talks in September at the UN General Assembly.
Algeria eased its ban on some Spanish goods after recalling its ambassador last year. The move followed Spain’s support for Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy proposal, which Algeria strongly opposes.
Algerian officials said the ambassador’s return was prompted by signals from Spain, indicating a shift back to neutrality in the Western Sahara conflict.
They referred to comments by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the UN, where he supported a political solution and Spain’s continued aid to Western Sahara refugees.
As Sanchez didn't directly address Western Sahara autonomy, Algeria saw this as a step back from Spain’s earlier stance.
Algerian media reported leaks from UN meetings that revealed Spanish officials had reassured Algerian counterparts of their commitment to neutrality on the Western Sahara.
This thaw followed talks in New York, leading to arrangements for Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares to visit Algeria in February to signal an end to the dispute.
Meanwhile, Algerian banks lifted the freeze on commercial operations with Spain after trade losses exceeding a billion dollars, mainly impacting Spanish institutions dealing with the North African nation.
However, a setback happened in the same month. During Sanchez’s visit to Rabat, the Moroccan royal palace announced that Spain had “reaffirmed its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative.”
Algeria tried to pressure the premier to stress Spain’s neutrality on the issue during a scheduled visit to Algiers.
However, the plan fell apart, with the visit getting canceled at the last minute. Spanish media reported that Algeria was displeased because it wanted Spain to address the Western Sahara issue, not just focus on trade.
