The Smara Attack: A Reflection of Power Struggles in Algeria...
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The recent Polisario attack on Smara, in the Moroccan Sahara, takes place within a context of deep divisions within the Algerian military hierarchy, which directly influence the policy of the Algerian state. These internal tensions, marked by strategic rivalries, impact the Algiers-Polisario strategy vis-à-vis Morocco.
This offensive, targeting notably a MINURSO base and the small airport of Smara, reflects the will of certain sectors of the Algerian army, supporting the Polisario, to challenge the international community and counter American diplomatic pressure, particularly the bill in Congress aiming to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization. This move also likely reflects a disagreement within the Algiers-Polisario alliance, exacerbated by the request of the Algerian Chief of Staff, Said Chengriha, to return the Iranian weapons supplied to the Polisario, signaling a probable change of course under international pressure.
The Polisario, dependent on Algerian authorities for its actions, illustrates through this attack the fractures within the Algerian military hierarchy. Several currents oppose each other: some advocate rapprochement with France, others maintain the historic relationship with Russia, while others seek to appease the United States. These divergences are amplified by regional geopolitical stakes, notably the war in Ukraine, and by Morocco’s rapprochement with Sahel countries, which exasperates certain members of the general staff.
Moreover, the concentration of military, political, economic, and diplomatic powers in the hands of General Chengriha fuels tensions with the civilian presidency. President Tebboune, although formally head of state, sees his authority challenged, as demonstrated by the private meeting with Emmanuel Macron held without prior consultation of the general staff, causing a cooling of relations at the top before the ‘president’ was reprimanded.
These internal conflicts directly influence the management of the Sahara dossier. The Polisario attack appears as an expression of power struggles: some officers favor an aggressive posture to preserve their influence, while others prioritize caution in the face of risks of diplomatic isolation and sanctions.
The increasing integration of the military into the civilian administration, reinforced by a recent presidential decree, illustrates the general staff’s desire to control all levers of power, accentuating the politicization of the army and internal tensions.
Finally, the fact that the attack did not achieve its major objectives seems deliberate, constituting a kind of “signature” with Iranian rockets. This gesture can also be seen as a sign of despair from a diplomatically isolated movement and an indicator of divisions at the military top, with some seeking to show that a change of power could open other regional options.
This operation, far from unanimous, weakens Algiers’ position and strengthens the arguments of figures like Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta.
Highlighting that major national decisions occur within a context of internal rivalries within the military institution, a pillar of power in Algeria, no one can believe that the decision to launch rockets against Morocco was made in a unanimous conclave.
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The Smara Attack: A Reflection of Power Struggles in Algeria...
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Smara: L'attaque surprise du Polisario dans un contexte de tensions internes algériennes...
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L’attaque récente du Polisario contre Smara, au Sahara marocain, s’inscrit dans un contexte de profondes divisions au sein de la hiérarchie militaire algérienne, qui influencent directement la politique de l’État algérien. Ces tensions internes, marquées par des rivalités stratégiques, se répercutent sur la stratégie algéro-polisarienne face au Maroc.
Cette offensive, ciblant notamment une base de la MINURSO et le petit aéroport de Smara, traduit une volonté de certains secteurs de l’armée algérienne, soutenant le Polisario, de défier la communauté internationale et de contrer la pression diplomatique américaine, notamment le projet de loi au Congrès visant à classer le Polisario comme organisation terroriste. Ce geste reflète aussi sans doute un désaccord au sein de l’alliance algéro-polisarienne, exacerbée par la demande du chef d’état-major algérien, Said Chengriha, de restituer les armes iraniennes fournies au Polisario, signe d’un changement probable de cap sous pression internationale.
Le Polisario, dépendant des autorités algériennes pour ses actions, illustre par cette attaque les fractures dans la hiérarchie militaire algérienne. Plusieurs courants s’opposent : certains prônent un rapprochement avec la France, d’autres maintiennent la relation historique avec la Russie, tandis que d’autres encore cherchent à ménager les États-Unis. Ces divergences sont amplifiées par les enjeux géopolitiques régionaux, notamment la guerre en Ukraine, et par le rapprochement du Maroc avec les pays du Sahel, qui exaspère certains membres de l’état-major.
Par ailleurs, la concentration des pouvoirs militaires, politiques, économiques et diplomatiques entre les mains du général Chengriha alimente les tensions avec la présidence civile. Le président Tebboune, bien que formellement chef de l’État, voit son autorité contestée, comme l’a montré la rencontre privée avec Emmanuel Macron, tenue sans consultation préalable de l’état-major, provoquant un refroidissement des relations au sommet avant que le ‘président’ ne soit recadré.
Ces conflits internes influencent directement la gestion du dossier du Sahara. L’attaque du Polisario apparaît comme une expression des luttes de pouvoir : certains officiers favorisent une posture agressive pour préserver leur influence, tandis que d’autres privilégient la prudence face aux risques d’isolement diplomatique et de sanctions.
L’intégration croissante des militaires dans l’administration civile, renforcée par un récent décret présidentiel, illustre la volonté de l’état-major de contrôler tous les leviers du pouvoir, accentuant la politisation de l’armée et les tensions internes.
Enfin, le fait que l’attaque n’ait pas atteint ses objectifs majeurs, semble délibéré, constituant une sorte de « signature » avec des roquettes iraniennes. Ce geste peut aussi être perçu comme un signe de désespoir d’un mouvement diplomatiquement isolé et un indicateur des divisions au sommet militaire, certains cherchant à montrer qu’un changement de pouvoir pourrait ouvrir d’autres options régionales.
Cette opération, loin d’être unanime, fragilise la position d’Alger et renforce les arguments de figures comme Joe Wilson et Jimmy Panetta.
Soulignant que les grandes décisions nationales s’inscrivent dans un contexte de rivalités internes au sein de l’institution militaire, pilier du pouvoir en Algérie, personne ne peut croire que la décision de lancer des roquettes contre le Maroc ait été prise dans un conclave unanime.
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Smara: L'attaque surprise du Polisario dans un contexte de tensions internes algériennes...
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Council of Europe Conference on Human Rights in Sport Held in Rabat, Morocco.
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The Council of Europe, in collaboration with the Ministry of Preschool Education and Sports, and with the support of the Swiss Embassy to the Kingdom, organized in Rabat on June 23 and 24 a conference dedicated to Human Rights in Sport. All relevant departments and administrations, the national sports movement, as well as researchers specializing in the field were invited.
The choice of date was no coincidence: we are just a few months away from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and a few years from the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. These major sporting events require the Kingdom to strengthen and update its legal and institutional framework regarding human rights in sport.
For the Council of Europe, sport is not only an essential physical and social activity but also a fundamental vector of human rights, embodying values such as respect, non-discrimination, solidarity, and justice. To protect and promote these rights, it relies on several key conventions: the Macolin Convention, the Anti-Doping Convention, and the Saint-Denis Convention. These legal instruments form the cornerstone of its commitment to ethical, safe, and inclusive sport.
Morocco has signed the Macolin Convention, which is awaiting ratification. It has also acceded to the provisions of the Anti-Doping Convention but remains an observer regarding the Saint-Denis Convention.
The conference therefore addressed these different legal frameworks, further explained them, and reviewed the Kingdom’s progress in these areas.
Following the official opening and presentations by the departments of the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the representative of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Swiss ambassador and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Rabat, several experts took the floor to elaborate on the theme:
Prof. Younes Lazrak Hassouni presented the Moroccan national legal framework concerning human rights in sport.
Dr. Fatima Abouali, President of the Moroccan Anti-Doping Agency (AMAD), spoke about AMAD’s commitment to respecting human rights. The Anti-Doping Convention (1989, amended in 2002) seeks to preserve health and sporting fairness by eradicating doping, which is considered a violation of sports ethics and a threat to athletes’ health. It supports the fundamental right to healthy and fair sport, guaranteeing the dignity of participants.
Mr. Younes El Mechrafi, General Director of Moroccan Games and Sports, addressed the fight against illegal betting in light of the Macolin Convention, highlighting recent developments, particularly in combating illegal betting. The Macolin Convention (2014) aims to strengthen national coordination and international cooperation to prevent and combat the manipulation of sports competitions, whether related to criminal activities or sports betting. It protects the integrity of sport, ensuring a fair environment for athletes and spectators—an essential aspect of human rights in sport.
The Moroccan presentations were followed by those of Council of Europe experts:
Ms. Elena Caser, from the Sports Division, outlined the Council’s priority areas for preserving sports integrity.
Mr. Nicolas Sayde detailed the implementation of the Macolin Convention to combat competition manipulation, using concrete examples.
Ms. Marie Françoise Glatz, Secretary of the Saint-Denis Convention, presented the principles and standards of this convention, emphasizing its integrated and multi-institutional approach to the secure management of sporting events.
Mr. Paulo Gomes, Head of the Convention Unit, stressed the added value of this convention for Morocco, especially regarding a strengthened legal framework and the security of upcoming major sporting events.
The objective was clear: to convince Morocco to fully adhere to the Saint-Denis Convention. To date, this convention is the only binding international instrument that establishes an integrated approach to ensure the safety, security, and quality of services at sporting events. It promotes close cooperation between public authorities, private actors, and supporters to create welcoming, safe sporting events that respect human rights, particularly in combating violence, racism, and discrimination.
This last convention sparked extensive debate, especially among representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the General Directorate of National Security, as Morocco is currently preparing its legal arsenal for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, in accordance with the requirements of various specifications.
Beyond international conventions, Morocco is one of the few countries in the world to have enshrined sport and physical activity in its Constitution. It establishes these as a right for citizens and an obligation for the State. Physical activity constitutes the primary pillar of any comprehensive health system, both physical and mental. Sport plays a crucial role through its recreational, social, political, and geopolitical dimensions. It is also an important economic sector, contributing significantly to GDP, directly or indirectly.
The Kingdom has a solid normative framework: Law No. 30-09 on physical education and sports, Law No. 84-12 on the organization of sports activities, Law No. 09-09 against violence in stadiums, and Law No. 97-12 on anti-doping, which regulates controls and sanctions. These laws are complemented by Decree No. 2-10-628 of 2011 relating to Law 30-09.
This fairly comprehensive system aims to make sport a space of respect, fairness, and solidarity, in line with the universal values of human rights.
The proper organization of sporting events, the fight against doping, and the fight against violence form a fundamental triptych guaranteeing integrity, health, safety, and respect for fundamental rights in sport.
This integrated vision places sport at the heart of public policies promoting human rights, making it a powerful lever for a fairer, more inclusive, and more united society.
Holding this conference in Rabat confirms the Kingdom’s determination to comply with the highest international standards in this field and demonstrates its openness to cooperation with its partners, notably the European Union and its dedicated bodies.
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Council of Europe Conference on Human Rights in Sport Held in Rabat, Morocco.
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