Algeria Condemns Moroccan Statement on Kabyle People's Right to Self-determination

Algerian woman carrying the national flag during protests (AFP)
Algerian woman carrying the national flag during protests (AFP)
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Algeria Condemns Moroccan Statement on Kabyle People's Right to Self-determination

Algerian woman carrying the national flag during protests (AFP)
Algerian woman carrying the national flag during protests (AFP)

Algeria strongly denounced the statement of the permanent Moroccan representative to the UN, in which he declared the support for the "Kabyle people's right to self-determination."

Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN said the Kabyle people have the right to self-determination, describing them as "one of the oldest peoples in Africa, who are under the longest foreign occupation."

In response, the Foreign Ministry said it has the right to receive clarification of the final position of the Kingdom of Morocco regarding this extremely dangerous incident.

The ambassador added that "the Kabyle people deserve to enjoy their right to self-determination fully."

The Ministry announced that the Moroccan diplomatic representation in New York handed an official memorandum to all member states of the Non-Aligned Movement, the content of which is "officially devoted to demonstrating the Kingdom of Morocco's involvement in an anti-Algeria campaign."

It denounced the public and explicit support for the right of alleged self-determination of the Kabyle people who, according to the memorandum, "suffered the longest state of foreign occupation."

Earlier, during a virtual meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Azerbaijan, the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, discussed the Sahara conflict.

The statement considered this memorandum to be a "recognition of the multifaceted Moroccan support currently provided to a well-known terrorist group," referring to the separatist Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK), which Algeria recently designated as a terrorist group, along with the Rachad Movement.

Algeria described the Moroccan diplomatic statement as: "Reckless, irresponsible and manipulative."

It stressed that it is "part of a short-sighted, reductive and futile attempt aimed at creating a shameful confusion between the issue of decolonization recognized as such by the international community and what is a mere conspiracy plotted against the unity of the Algerian nation."

The Moroccan statement directly contradicts the "principles and agreements that structure and inspire Algeria-Morocco relations, in addition to flagrantly contradicting international law and the constitutive law of the African Union," according to Algeria.

The Foreign Ministry's statement concluded by saying that in light of this situation arising from a dubious diplomatic act carried out by an ambassador, Algeria, which is a sovereign and indivisible republic, has the right to receive clarification of the final position of Morocco regarding this extremely dangerous incident.

The National Liberation Front issued a statement noting that the Moroccan memo "requires broad and urgent national action to deter any attempt to undermine Algeria's unity and territorial integrity."

It called on parties and associations to enhance national cohesion and support state institutions in these challenging circumstances.

For its part, the Democratic National Rally, a government member, denounced such a plan to undermine Algeria's stability, saying it officially involved Morocco in a campaign hostile to the nation.

The Islamic National Construction Movement described the Moroccan memo as "a declaration of war against every Algerian," calling for a quick and equal response from the state and its sovereign institutions.

The movement indicated that the situation requires immediate support and unity of all institutions and parties, putting all political differences aside.



Hamas Armed Wing Says It Lost Contact with Group Holding Israeli-US Hostage Alexander

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
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Hamas Armed Wing Says It Lost Contact with Group Holding Israeli-US Hostage Alexander

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Gaza. (Reuters)

The armed wing of Hamas said on Tuesday it had lost contact with a group of fighters holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Ubaida, the armed wing's spokesperson, said on the Telegram that it lost contact after the Israeli army attacked the place where the fighters were holding Alexander, who is a New Jersey native and a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.

Abu Ubaida did not say where in Gaza Alexander was purportedly held. The armed wing later released a video warning hostages families that their "children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart from shrapnel from your army".

Hamas has previously blamed Israel for the deaths of hostages held in Gaza, including as a direct result of military operations, while also acknowledging on at least one occasion that a hostage was killed by a guard. It said the guard had acted against instructions.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to a request for comment on the Hamas statement about Alexander.

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House in March that gaining the release of Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, was a "top priority for us".

The Tikva Forum, a group representing some family members of those held in Gaza, had said earlier on Tuesday that Alexander was among up to 10 hostages who could be released by Hamas if a new ceasefire was reached, citing a conversation a day earlier between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the mother of another hostage. There was no immediate comment on that from Netanyahu's office.

On Saturday Hamas released a video purportedly showing Alexander, who has been held in Gaza since he was captured by Palestinian gunmen on October 7, 2023.

The release of Alexander was at the center of earlier talks held between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler last month.

Hamas released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel's military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.

Israeli officials say that offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.